An open letter to SA’s leadership...

<p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgJC-o3pB6FRLZWGjm6E2XBs8nSffUZXMgoW3qXlE5vH6mzgthgR0y-FCcJCHNI3rAMnvnrcxN_z1IGJPlvK1d5ngibRQlQfEjWZ3HfD0J4OSRmAMa28S-M65RYtLUl_I7Emrqe0T7_le/s1600/anc-running-water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="378" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgJC-o3pB6FRLZWGjm6E2XBs8nSffUZXMgoW3qXlE5vH6mzgthgR0y-FCcJCHNI3rAMnvnrcxN_z1IGJPlvK1d5ngibRQlQfEjWZ3HfD0J4OSRmAMa28S-M65RYtLUl_I7Emrqe0T7_le/s640/anc-running-water.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I will try to answer three questions;<br /><br />1. Which way are we going?<br />2. Why?<br />3. Can we find a better way forward?<br /><br />Apart from racial policy, the institute I head has been documenting almost every aspect of South Africa since our foundation in 1929. It was inevitable then that when the ANC came to power in 1994, people asked us why South Africa should not become just another African disaster.<br /><br />I gave the usual list of advantages: a greater pool of skills, good infrastructure, a resilient private sector, our strong international economic linkages, a tradition of political pluralism, independent trade unions, a free press, and the vigour of our NGO sector. Since then the country has won golden opinions for macroeconomic policy management, reflected most recently in a heavily oversubscribed 30-year government bond.<br /><br />Despite this, we now learn almost daily of things that prompt the question once again: are we headed for the list of African failures. Recently an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurred because a vital border fence with Mozambique had been neglected.<br /><br />Such problems are not isolated. We have slipped further down global tables as a destination for mining investment, police behaviour seems to be increasingly lawless, maternal and infant mortality rates are rising, millions of schoolchildren have started another year without textbooks, and the country's commercial capital is run by people who are out of their depth. We also have much higher rates of youth unemployment than countries to the north that recently chased away their rulers.<br /><br />Specific problems aside, among the main reasons we are going wrong are the following:<br /><br />•Affirmative action, which has denuded the State of both skills and institutional memory<br />•Labour laws which protect unionised workers at the expense of the jobless<br />•The cadre deployment policy, making loyalty to the party a key criterion for appointment to offices of state, and<br />•Use of a model of government which makes elected institutions more accountable to party headquarters than to voters.<br /><br />Apart from policies and practices, the problems confronting us arise in part from assumptions and attitudes that affect the policy environment. These include:<br /><br />•limited understanding of what entrepreneurship requires<br />•ideological hostility towards business<br />•poor appreciation of how markets work or even antipathy towards them the belief that the pockets of our small number of major taxpayers are bottomless, and<br />•too much faith in the efficacy of the State, leading to more and more regulation<br /><br />To these harmful factors must be added others:<br /><br />•corruption said by the deputy president to be "worse than anyone imagines"<br />•lawlessness on the part of the State<br />•a love of the grandiose, such as new bullet trains to Durban while we can't fix commuter rail services<br />•the callousness towards ordinary people found all too often in service departments, and<br />•no accountability even for preventable deaths of mothers and babies in public hospitals<br /><br />Then there are two key problems in the way policy is made.<br /><br />One is a habit of putting the cart before the horse - for example, embarking on ambitious education or health schemes without first fixing the basics such as training enough teachers and reversing the decline of public hospitals.<br /><br />The second is failure to apply the lessons of admitted mistakes. To its credit, the Government has admitted the failings of outcomes-based education but the ANC nevertheless plans to forge ahead with a national health system without considering the State's capacity constraints.<br /><br />These various aspects of our problems show that we are facing not just a few wrong-headed policies, but a challenge arising from the very nature of the Government and how it runs the State. Most of them have a direct impact on business.<br /><br />Part of that challenge arises from the fact that the ANC is not a normal political party. When a party with a two-thirds majority in Parliament is still committed to a "national democratic revolution," we must ask what it is that they wish to stage a revolution against. The economic system? Probably. Democracy? Perhaps. The rule of law? Very likely. The Constitution? Possibly.<br /><br />The Press pays little attention to the national democratic revolution, but the ANC is committed to it. This is one of the risks we face. Another is that tougher affirmative action requirements lead to a drain from the country of the most skilled segment of the population.<br /><br />Yet another is that public spending gets out of control as the ANC promises more free things to more people and puts more of them on to the public payroll, including now members of Umkhonto we Sizwe. We might also see a more rigid labour market, destructive interventions in agriculture, attenuation of property rights, damage to private health care, more malfeasance with mining licences, further corruption of the criminal justice system, and more local governments collapsing.<br /><br />It is ironical that we are expanding our social security commitments at the very moment when rich countries are having to cut back. It is also ironical that we are seeking to extend controls of the labour market while Europeans are trying to make their labour markets more flexible.<br /><br />A further piece of irony is that we are lengthening the arm of the State at the very time when China and India are continuing to liberalise economically, when parts of Africa are liberalising, and when even Cuba is showing signs of liberalisation.<br /><br />I have painted some dark clouds and the challenge now is to find the silver linings. Like a contrarian investor, we must look for signs of change that may not be obvious. One of these is the very fact that the Europeans, the Chinese, the Indians, and the Cubans have been here before and are having to reverse thrust.<br /><br />The international context in which we make policy has changed. Africa is also having to pay more attention to good governance than in the past. Already, some African countries are more attractive as mining destinations than we are. If we don't look out, we may find that our lead as the most important economy in Africa is shrinking.<br /><br />Despite the ANC's close historical ties with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, it was unable in 1994 to follow a communist path because the USSR had in the meantime imploded. As welfare and dirigiste states elsewhere come under pressure, so will the ANC have to recognise that those role models are also unworkable.<br /><br />Despite this country's achievements since the advent of democracy in 1994, we are pursuing an unworkable political model. This model will have to be abandoned just as communism and apartheid had to be abandoned. How long this will take I do not know. The evolution of liberal democracy can be a slow and difficult business. But we need to find ways of helping the process along, while also trying to minimise the fearful human and economic damage that may be done in the interim.<br /><br />Among the reasons why apartheid disintegrated, two are relevant today. One is that its contradictions - notably the belief that you could run a modern economy without exploiting the skills of the whole population and granting them political rights - became unsustainable.<br /><br />The second reason was that, as the policy crumbled under the weight of critical scrutiny and its own contradictions, the ruling elite began to lose faith in it. Disillusionment spread from the Dutch reformed churches, to the Afrikaans Press, to academia, to business, to the ruling party, to the Cabinet, and not least to the Broederbond. This made Mr FW de Klerk's bold actions on 2nd February 1990 both necessary and possible.<br /><br />Parallels between the last 25 years of National Party rule and the first 15 years of ANC rule are becoming quite striking.<br /><br />The most obvious is on racial policy. The NP thought it could run a successful economy without fully exploiting the skills of the black population. The ANC thinks it can run a successful state without fully exploiting the skills of the white population. The evidence that this cannot be done is apparent all the time at all levels and in all branches of government. And it is beginning to cause instability at local level and hurt the party.<br /><br />Unfortunately, however, one of the parallels with our past is that failed policies are sometimes intensified rather than abandoned. This happened with the pass laws, for example, before PW Botha finally repealed them in 1986. It may also happen now with the Employment Equity Act, with its provisions for heavier fines to enforce racial quotas upon all employers - when the Government cannot even get Denel, or Eskom, or SAA, or Transnet to meet its racial targets at management or skilled levels.<br /><br />But there are other parallels. Just as the National Party steadily lost support among the intelligentsia, the same is happening with the ANC. Some black newspaper editors and journalists are at least as critical of the ANC as their white counterparts. In discussions with black business leaders over the past few months, my Institute has been struck how some of them have become very critical of the government - more so than most of their white counterparts. Moeletsi Mbeki probably speaks for more people than we think.<br /><br />Some of the squabbles in the ruling tripartite alliance are about spoils and patronage, but others are about policy. There are divisions over whether "decent" jobs should be placed above the need to generate more jobs. A growing minority is beginning to question the deployment policy. Others would like to have a professional civil service instead of one subject to ministerial whim. Racial policies are now also becoming a source of division, as we saw last week with Trevor Manuel's public attack on Jimmy Manyi.<br /><br />This spat is causing the ANC to tie itself into knots. When my Institute pointed out that forcing employers in the Western Cape to conform to the national racial breakdown would necessitate the (illegal) dismissal of thousands of coloured workers, President Jacob Zuma said companies would have flexibility to conform to national or regional demographics.<br /><br />This, however, is not what the proposed amendment to the Employment Equity Act says. Now the general secretary of the ANC, Mr Gwede Mantashe, has weighed in to the effect that national companies will have to use national demographics and provincially-based companies provincial demographics. This is the opposite of the flexibility of which Mr Zuma speaks.<br /><br />In November last year the minister of finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan, told an audience in London that economic empowerment policies designed to improve the standard of living of the black majority after 1994 had not worked. After all the employment equity, labour, and land reform legislation, not to mention hundreds of billions of Rands in BEE deals, this is quite an admission. In the short term it may lead to an intensification of failed policies, but in the long term these policies will have to be abandoned.<br /><br />The new constitution ushered in democracy in 1994. Ironically, however, the ANC's model of government - based on the Leninist idea of "democratic centralism" - in terms of which party headquarters dictates to local communities whom they must elect - is causing growing dissatisfaction at local level as the municipal election on 18th May approaches.<br /><br />Though many officials are hostile to white farmers, others recognise that no one else has the expertise to reverse the failures of land reform. Despite antipathy to the private sector, some of the ruling elite see a growing role for it in getting our ports working more efficiently, in electricity generation, in the rescue of local government, in AIDS testing, and in sorting out the problems of further education and training colleges.<br /><br />Indeed, as the failings of the State become more and more apparent, thanks in part to a critical media, more and more people in government will turn to the private sector for help. Even Cosatu wants private sector involvement to be mobilised when Postbank gets a banking licence.<br /><br />These inconsistencies will multiply as the ANC continues to pursue mutually contradictory policies. Promises of creating millions of new jobs are incompatible with key components of official policy, among them affirmative action, the deployment strategy, restrictions on immigration, tightening up the labour market, and adding to the regulatory burden on business. Eventually the contradictions will become unsustainable. Either some of these key policies will have to be jettisoned, or the quest for millions more jobs will fall by the wayside.<br /><br />In the meantime, what do we do? The first thing is to keep exposing the contradictions, so providing arguments for those in the ruling alliance who wish to see more realistic policies. Arguments for the liberalisation of our damaging labour laws need to be refined and intensified. The climate to do this is now more favourable than at any time since 1994.<br /><br />I suspect that affirmative action and cadre deployment policies have also done more damage to this country than most people care to admit. Can you really run a modern industrial state if you would rather leave posts in the public sector vacant than appoint whites to them? The major victims of this folly have been blacks rather than whites.<br /><br />The connection between these policies and lost growth and investment, high unemployment, shoddy RDP houses, inability to obtain social grants or medicines, preventable maternal and infant deaths, high crime rates, perilous roads, poisonous rivers, mismanagement of flooded dams, fraudulent passports and IDs, and a great many other problems needs to be repeatedly pointed out.<br /><br />The ANC's economic objectives simply cannot be achieved while everything is subordinate to racial ideology and the imperatives of the "national democratic revolution". This message needs to be hammered home without reservation or apology until a critical mass of opinion within the ruling alliance comes to recognise it.<br /><br />Secondly, it is necessary to stand firm in the defence of vital practices and institutions as they come under increasing threat, not only the rule of law but also academic freedom, independent civil society, a free Press, an independent legal profession and prosecution service, and independent courts. It is also necessary that organisations other than business come to the public defence of the free market system, private enterprise, and entrepreneurship.<br /><br />Not for a second should anyone in the ruling alliance be allowed to forget that the money the Government spends on education, health, housing, child support grants, and everything else - including its lengthening list of promises to its constituents - arises from taxes extracted from the private sector and private individuals.<br /><br />This is a point that needs much more emphasis than it gets. Business might wish to think of ways of getting the point across more strongly in public as well as to parliamentarians, civil servants, and other members of the ruling alliance.<br /><br />Thirdly, keep proposing alternatives to present policies. Business may not necessarily see a direct role for itself here, but it is nevertheless essential that alternatives be put forward. Here is my list of a dozen:<br /><br />1. Cut back on the size of the State<br />2. Put inspectors back into schools<br />3. Systematically extend private education<br />4. Radically redesign land reform<br />5. Democratise Parliament<br />6. Liberalise the labour market<br />7. Make economic growth rather than redistribution the topmost priority<br />8. Change our welfare state into one that promotes entrepreneurship<br />9. Direct all state interventions at helping the poorest of the poor regardless of race<br />10. Replace the deployment system with a professional civil service<br />11. Increase our global competitiveness as a destination for foreign direct investment<br />12. Repeal all racially discriminatory laws<br /><br />Some of these may seem fanciful right now. However, given growing contradictions, policy failures, and paralysis in government, the climate is in fact auspicious. Detailed policy work on alternatives will of course be necessary. But the main point at this stage is to undertake a tenacious campaign to change ideas, preparing the soil, as it were, for new policies to be planted. This will be a long haul and a hard slog, so the sooner it is stepped up the better. The ruling party must be a prime target, both direct and indirect.<br /><br />Don't forget that ideas predate policies and that their power, for good or ill, should never be underestimated. It was after all, that great incendiary journalist and armchair revolutionary, Karl Marx, who produced some of the most powerful ideas in history. Despite their murderous consequences some of these ideas still have an iron grip in South Africa.<br /><br />They need constantly to be countered by the ideas that underpin liberal democracy. In particular, we need to keep on propagating the idea that the real alternative to apartheid is not another form of social engineering designed to promote an impossible equality of outcomes but an open society committed to equality before the law, political and economic freedom, corruption-free and proper democratic government, and rising living standards for all.<br /><br />Social and racial engineers failed in South Africa last time around, and they will fail this time too. That is cause not for despair but for eager anticipation.</span><br /><br /><em>- John Kane-Berman - CEO of the South African Institute of Race Relations.</em><br /><br /></span><p>

An open letter to SA’s leadership...

I will try to answer three questions; 1. Which way are we going? 2. Why? 3. Can we find a better way forward? Apart from racial policy, the ...

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Police call for tax boycott as taxpayers become accessories to crime

<p><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbSFOlLYTOL5TreGZVIaY4giL7-uZ839wWAM0do7d00bOtL_Xw_JWSrpQ_vT_G_J_4ITWSS0-Qbp4_EUoiyejojCbTS-ASaWA0PdjnWaEwERngmZ8QS-hf4FRBGkb97mA7u4u-avgI6A-/s1600/parody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbSFOlLYTOL5TreGZVIaY4giL7-uZ839wWAM0do7d00bOtL_Xw_JWSrpQ_vT_G_J_4ITWSS0-Qbp4_EUoiyejojCbTS-ASaWA0PdjnWaEwERngmZ8QS-hf4FRBGkb97mA7u4u-avgI6A-/s1600/parody.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The police and other corruption-busting organisations have warned South Africans to stop paying tax, saying that citizens are knowingly becoming accessories to crime by funding a shady gang of confidence tricksters, fraudsters, embezzlers and petty thieves known throughout the criminal underworld as “the South African government”</span>.</span></strong></span></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyevB1GFW6otibdpM22pVNYrpiIdd2C9dQ8QZ3bqHjAH9xtvwwjgsHQMJnQgelE1IjZuGNVhXqXjm5LnKc77kDD9OM5ulRq2CIUMfwQxOTqs6E7wk_A_aEvBf_XhGtQt19TSN2ROZJ6ov/s1600/newsweek_cover+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyevB1GFW6otibdpM22pVNYrpiIdd2C9dQ8QZ3bqHjAH9xtvwwjgsHQMJnQgelE1IjZuGNVhXqXjm5LnKc77kDD9OM5ulRq2CIUMfwQxOTqs6E7wk_A_aEvBf_XhGtQt19TSN2ROZJ6ov/s400/newsweek_cover+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">According to recent estimates, around R100-billion is stolen by corrupt public officials every year, thanks largely to a massive annual heist known to government criminals as “tax season”.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">“As far as we can tell there’s a front operation, fairly legit, they’ve got offices and everything,” explained lead investigator Colombo Phiri.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">“There’s a big blue sign over the door that says ‘SARS’, and every year during the ‘tax season’ heist they rake in about R350-billion of swag.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">He added that once the loot was safely in SARS’s vaults, the “Government Gang” usually stole between 25 and 30 percent of it, depending on the current price of BMWs, the amount of patronage they needed to buy from regional ANC Youth League commissars, and the number of political opponents they needed to assassinate in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Phiri conceded that up to R100-billion was also being stolen in the private sector every year, but said less fuss was made of this for one major reason.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">“The main difference is that citizens are not required by law to hand over 30 percent of their earnings to patently corrupt companies,” he said. “It’s not like you go to jail if you refuse to shop at your friendly neighbourhood arms dealer.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">However, he said, the law was the law and taxpayers who willingly funded organised crime – or extremely disorganised organised crime, as in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga – could expect no mercy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">“When you fill in that tax return and write that cheque, you know that 30 percent of your money is going straight into the slush fund of some self-entitled mouth-breather with a Grade 9 education and a cousin in the Youth League,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">“Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">He added that those who flouted the law by paying tax would be prosecuted, unless prosecutors accidentally shredded and then burnt their dockets after being bought off with tax revenue.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">“Do the right thing. Stash your salary under your mattress and if you see anyone who works for the government, from a local councillor right up to cabinet ministers, do not approach them but rather go to a safe place, keeping your money well out of sight, and call the police immediately.” <br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>source: hayibo.com </em></span></span><br /><br /></div></div><p>

Police call for tax boycott as taxpayers become accessories to crime

The police and other corruption-busting organisations have warned South Africans to stop paying tax, saying that citizens are knowingly beco...

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Cele and his SAPS criminals vs Jesus and His 12 Apostles

<p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>No this is not an April Fools joke</strong></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnXIAZ1V4lQjZzy08lLT4EenZqm2GG7Bln5wn2mPfTMQy_piAVkAxrPsH99FpEFsFE8bezCkp8p5wm19OxCQ1aj8ncW_7w3rKVrTjnWD5y9Qj4dZeAAc3_Z07Omnmndr4iPDD5AVI4Dms/s1600/shitforbrains+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnXIAZ1V4lQjZzy08lLT4EenZqm2GG7Bln5wn2mPfTMQy_piAVkAxrPsH99FpEFsFE8bezCkp8p5wm19OxCQ1aj8ncW_7w3rKVrTjnWD5y9Qj4dZeAAc3_Z07Omnmndr4iPDD5AVI4Dms/s400/shitforbrains+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">National police chief </span><a class="tips" hoverintent_t="undefined" href="http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/bheki-cele-8977" jquery1509375304565641562="15" rel="/Handlers/WhosWhoTooltip.ashx?url=http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/hover.php?uid=8977" title=""><strong><span style="color: #0e2e5e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bheki Cele</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> has likened the SA Police Service to Jesus Christ and his 12 <strike>apostles</strike> disciples. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><em>(The term apostle means one who is sent forth as a messenger while a disciple is a follower or a student who learns from a teacher. Is the blundering, </em> </span></span><em><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">loose-tongued, self-styled "general" police <strike>clown</strike> chief Bheki Cele even aware of the difference?)</span></em></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He said that if even Jesus and God had criminals in their midst, it was to be expected that there would be criminals in the 193 000-strong police force.<br /><br />"Jesus Christ had an organisation of 12 people... among those 12 there was a criminal who sat with Jesus every day," Cele was quoted saying at a police cars handover ceremony in Pretoria on Friday.<br /><br />"Even when Jesus berated him [Judas], he denied that it was him who was a criminal.<br /><br />"In the Garden of Eden, there were two people. God himself did an inspection every morning. One day, He could not find them. They were hiding, because they had committed a crime," he said. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><span style="color: blue;">(<span style="font-size: small;">Which begs the question what did God do? Did He condone corruption within the organisation? Did He reward the criminals with a promotion, big bonuses, deployment, suspension with full pay? Adam and Eve chose the way of disobedience and were banished from the Garden for one mistake-just one <strike>crime </strike>sin, no second chances.  We all understand choice and consequence. </span><span style="font-size: small;">God warned them that if they should eat the fruit of this tree, in the same day they would die. Sure enough, this is what happened. All of creation was subject to death as a result of their choice</span></span></em></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>.) </em></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"If you will find criminals amongst two people, then you will find criminals in an organisation with 193 000 members," Cele said.<br /><br />Beeld said that in the past seven months, some 254 police members in Gauteng were arrested for alleged involvement in robberies and corruption.<br /><br />Top cop </span><a class="tips" href="http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/richard-mdluli" jquery1509375304565641562="19" rel="/Handlers/WhosWhoTooltip.ashx?url=http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/hover.php?uid=48558" title=""><strong><span style="color: #0e2e5e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Richard Mdluli</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and several of his colleagues were arrested this week for their alleged involvement in a murder that was committed in the late 1990s.<br /><br />This is not the first biblical comparison used in SA politics.<br /><br />President </span><a class="tips" hoverintent_t="undefined" href="http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/jacob-zuma-927" jquery1509375304565641562="20" rel="/Handlers/WhosWhoTooltip.ashx?url=http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/hover.php?uid=927" title=""><strong><span style="color: #0e2e5e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jacob Zuma</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> was criticised a few years ago for saying the African National Congress will rule until Jesus comes.<br /><br />In 2008, a provincial ANC leader likened Zuma's suffering in the then corruption case against him to what Jesus had gone through.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" id="ctl00_ctl00_MainBodyPlaceholder_Column1Placeholder_articlePaged_lnkArticleAccreditationName" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #0e2e5e;">- SAPA</span></strong></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

Cele and his SAPS criminals vs Jesus and His 12 Apostles

No this is not an April Fools joke National police chief Bheki Cele has likened the SA Police Service to Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles ...

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The world's least safe destinations

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Online MSN Travel UK asked nearly 3,000 British holidaymakers where they feel most and least safe, based on holidays over the last three years.</span></strong><br /><br />Read on for the countdown of top 10 places that most travellers felt least safe in.<br />After you've finished, discover which hotspots made in onto the list of places people felt most safe in.<br /></p><p><strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573357527852890818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizziK8ccgh4HC1w5mBDEWCYrdWLnxNFyhcVon6IygSHln9A1PDDuiWOgn1BU1EZ9fpPDZBe8IuooIJdSs-284Ufh14LlVhlV3vjionx6Vh1mMc43kgCGw-6T5N03c8Kczkeww6gY_9WIz/s400/bigfive-crime.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" /></strong>The countries that made it onto the top 10 list of the world's <strong>least safe</strong> destinations<br /><br />10: <strong>Dominican Republic<br /></strong>Rating: 3.9<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><em><strong>Why: Incidents of crime and violence, credit card cloning and fraud are common</strong></em>.</span><br /><br />9: <strong>Cuba</strong><br />Rating: 3.8<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: Opportunistic theft is common.</span></em></strong><br /><br />8: <strong>Tunisia</strong><br />Rating: 3.6<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: Recent political unrest and protests<br /></span></em></strong><br />7: <strong>Thailand</strong><br />Rating: 3.6<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: Political upheaval<br /></span></em></strong><br />6: <strong>Egypt</strong><br />Rating: 3.5<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: Current political turbulence<br /></span></em></strong><br />5: <strong>Dubai</strong><br />Rating: 3.4<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: Cultural differences</span></em></strong><br /><br />4: <strong>Jamaica</strong><br />Rating: 3.2<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: High levels of crime and violence<br /></span></em></strong><br />3: <strong>Bulgaria</strong><br />Rating: 2.5<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: Over-charging and robberies<br /></span></em></strong><br />2: <strong>South Africa<br /></strong>Rating: 2<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: High level of crime, many fatal road accidents.</span></em></strong><br /><br />1: <strong>Mexico</strong><br />Rating: 1.8<br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;">Why: High level of drug-related violence, criminal activity, armed robberies & theft. </span></em></strong></p><p>The countries that made it onto the top 10 list of the world's <strong>safest destinations</strong><br /><br />10: <strong>Switzerland</strong> - Rating: 7.1<br />9: <strong>Singapore</strong> - Rating: 7.4<br />8:<strong> Italy - </strong>Rating: 7.6<br />7: <strong>Florida</strong> - Rating: 7.9<br />6: <strong>Australia</strong> - Rating: 8<br />5: <strong>Denmark</strong> - Rating: 8<br />4: <strong>New Zealand - </strong>Rating: 8.3<br />3: <strong>Cyprus</strong> - Rating: 9.4<br />2:<strong> France - </strong>Rating: 9.5<br />1: <strong>Spain</strong> - Rating: 9.8<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">WHY? For all reasons South Africa is NOT!<br /></p></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">safety and wellbeing are of prime importance<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">...has one of the world's highest personal and property safety records.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">crime rates are low, good healthcare, efficient transport, multilingual locals, violent crime is virtually unheard of.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">clean, organised and civil unrest is almost unheard of<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">relatively uncrowded streets, clean and orderly, streets and pavements are well-lit at night and muggings are rare<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">easy to travel around, has a stable economy and low crime rate<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">hospitals and airports are modern<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Source -</em> <a href="http://travel.uk.msn.com/inspiration/adventure-activities/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=156067311"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">http://travel.uk.msn.com/inspiration/adventure-activities/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=156067311</span></em></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></em></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></p></span>

The world's least safe destinations

Online MSN Travel UK asked nearly 3,000 British holidaymakers where they feel most and least safe, based on holidays over the last three yea...

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The thing that drove this family out of South Africa against their will

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhem6Is57bhWIc-0kbkgruzGYIT58-_jiRzIQIAbYo_lEuXRpTE3MPzr1VhoS_rPQtiLy0HZMH9n4sBAqVKhOfWhDZP3mhkF59NpJ915NXRbGtKBl64mGoKBMQzdK8uipamQGBEK9dqGddN/s1600/BLACK+DEATH.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562142796633149330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhem6Is57bhWIc-0kbkgruzGYIT58-_jiRzIQIAbYo_lEuXRpTE3MPzr1VhoS_rPQtiLy0HZMH9n4sBAqVKhOfWhDZP3mhkF59NpJ915NXRbGtKBl64mGoKBMQzdK8uipamQGBEK9dqGddN/s400/BLACK+DEATH.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Alex and his family did not leave this country because of the crumbling public service system. Those problems were “workable”. They had their own electricity generator, purified their own water, and had private health care.<br /><br />Nor were they put off by concerns for the country’s future. Quite the opposite, actually. They were “in for the fight of putting South Africa back together”.<br /><br />Then why did they leave?<br /><br />Alex says they were pushed out of South Africa against their will. He speaks of anger at having to see everything he worked for, for 20 years, go down the drain.<br /><br />People who told him he was brave to immigrate had it all wrong. It had nothing to do with being brave: he was afraid.<br /><br />Fear drove them out of South Africa:<br /><br />Those of you who have been a victim of crime can attest to that cold fear, that fear you can only know once you have been through it and if you're lucky survived.<br /><br />I remember one of the cops who found me tied up after one of the incidents saying to me: "You don't get a second chance like this twice in life".</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />After three home invasions and two shootings while shopping at their local mall, the family came to the end of their tether:<br /><br />I had reached a point where I was surviving on two hours sleep a night for two years and we were literally taking shifts.<br /><br />I can't say I miss South Africa because the lifestyle I missed is no longer there; one cannot braai outside without half an eye out for intruders, one can no longer simply sleep on the beach or the side of the road during holidays, nor really go for walks and enjoy nature, one cannot go out and enjoy a summers evening without constantly watching your back.<br /><br />So while I do miss the days of doing that, I know that it does not exist for now in South Africa and therefore there is nothing to miss.<br /><br />So for now I am happy doing my own laundry, it really doesn't take that long and is a good education for the kids, I no longer have a drunk gardener I am terrified of firing for fear of reprisal, knocking on my windows and harassing the household when he's been drinking. Or a security guard who may just turn on me one day. Yes I do miss the days when people had respect for people and life in South Africa and life was good.... </span><a href="http://www.news24.com/MyNews24/Beyond-Borders/Most-expats-didnt-want-to-leave-20110104"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#996699;">but that no longer exists there</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"> black or white.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:100%;">I want to point out that this family’s living standard was way above average. Most South Africans don’t employ servants and security guards. And just as well. A cop once told me that practically all house robberies are inside jobs.</span></em></span> <p>

The thing that drove this family out of South Africa against their will

Alex and his family did not leave this country because of the crumbling public service system. Those problems were “workable”. They had thei...

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SA Govt repeating past mistakes...Again, Still, Whatever!

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Govt's <strike>TOP-10</strike> TOP-15 serious blunders that caused extreme alarm in 2010</span></strong><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><ol><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The water crisis,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZdguT7C2IEhpOcuMhTZM-JkOa5CzZX5etWtx12zwtksfhi3ZTd1FTB6Z_VOBsCIOEK_PXlZMP2e7E5mdH1k6_IQ4sCUtjbA4gALNAZRZF1x_M09U6DcisZg18Iu8-YeylPRATyo5Oh86/s1600/anc-logo.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556269021058784578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZdguT7C2IEhpOcuMhTZM-JkOa5CzZX5etWtx12zwtksfhi3ZTd1FTB6Z_VOBsCIOEK_PXlZMP2e7E5mdH1k6_IQ4sCUtjbA4gALNAZRZF1x_M09U6DcisZg18Iu8-YeylPRATyo5Oh86/s320/anc-logo.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGGWfVaUkOdaDCWdD3_Zm5sJgnwnLGMkmD1KxE6zUp5T95x3tQf5X54TzfZI3Q4Qu70WxQCUe0qauHutgMF8fVDHEGeAXWBf9ocW0aFsXaxUOeB28Yug8FLAPyASciTKV4hKlWiifR99g/s1600/anc-logo.jpg"></a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Misappropriation of state funds, </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Efforts to gag the media,</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The ongoing fiascos at semi-government institutions, </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The government's handling of youth matters, </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Road maintenance and potholes, </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">South Africa's military readiness, </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">CRIME, </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The widespread housing scandal </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Labour problems, </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Hosting of the R69m World Youth Festival by the NYDA; </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Poor service delivery from parastatals; </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The failure to create sufficient jobs; </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">A housing scandal involving 2 000 government officials, </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The failure to crush South Africa's "internationally feared" criminals.</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">***</span></strong>Corruption is present in most of the above</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>Water crisis state's worst blunder</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">1. <strong>Water crisis<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Government's denial of the worsening water problems in South Africa in 2010 must rate as one of its more serious blunders.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">In the same year that Trevor Manuel, minister in the presidency, shrugged off as "ridiculous" predictions that toxic mine water could seep out at various locations in Gauteng before long, government for the first time ever acknowledged its failure to maintain municipal sewerage plants all over the country. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The latter issue is a matter of grave concern. According to government's so-called Green Drop report for 2009, only 32 of the 449 plants tested managed Green Drop status. (Only 449 of the country's 852 plants were tested.) This means that millions of litres of insufficiently purified water daily find its way into our rivers.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">In a country afflicted by a scarcity of water, a fast-growing population and ageing infrastructure, our water predicament has now become a ticking timebomb.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">2. <strong>Youth</strong><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">One of the most expensive government blunders without a doubt was the 17th World Youth Festival presented by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) in December.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The festival cost almost R69 million, of which R29 million was funded by the treasury. In view of the current unemployment rate of 35,8% among South Africans in the age group 15 to 34 (according to the narrow definition of unemployment), such extravagance flies right in the face of our youth's aspirations. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">However, a critical 2010 blunder with more far-reaching consequences flows from government's continuing inability to solve our nation's education woes. The matric pass rate for 2009 was 60,6%. Owing to the prolonged teachers' strike in particular, the 2010 figure could hardly be an improvement on last year. Still failing to prepare our youth for the labour market, the education system generally produces merely mediocre school-leavers.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">3. <strong>Misappropriation</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Here are just some of this year's shocking blunders regarding state spending: </span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The disclosure in November that the bodyguards of the leader of the ANC Youth League, Julius Malema, had already cost the taxpayer more than R880 000. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">In October it was divulged that R3,7 million had been transferred from the South African Police Service (SAPS) budget to pay for the residence of police chief General Bheki Cele. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Some R130 million was spent by government and several semi-government institutions on tickets for various matches in the Soccer World Cup Tournament. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">In November the auditor-general revealed numerous government departments' "irregular" spending of approximately R2,3 billion (i.e. spending incurred outside stipulated guidelines). </span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">As to the management of municipal funds the picture is bleak indeed. Financial statements of South African municipalities published by the treasury disclosed that consumers of municipal services were overdue by more than R62 billion at the end of September 2010 - with close to R3,4 billion due by the state itself. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">4. <strong>Potholes keep government stumbling<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">While South African roads face a construction backlog of almost R100 billion, motorists are spending some R50 billion annually to have pothole-related damage to their vehicles repaired.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The maintenance of our secondary roads in particular has become a veritable nightmare thanks to the fact that, to a large extent, road maintenance has simply stopped. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) issued a warning in October that our roads were fast becoming irreparable. The AA conducted a study in 2008 by measuring road conditions on a scale of zero (worst condition) to 100 (best condition), according to the so-called visible-condition index (VCI). The index dropped to 46 in 2008, as against 65 in 1998.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Minister of transport, S'bu Ndebele, admitted in October that bad roads increase the risk of accidents.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">5. <strong>Media tribunal </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">It would seem that a transparent society, investigative journalism and media freedom are to make way for more corruption and deeper murkiness. This scenario, among others, awaits South Africa if the proposed media tribunal and the Protection of Information Bill were to be adopted.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Already experts are describing eventual state control of the media as a disaster. The proposed legislation is aimed at, among others, empowering the authorities to classify information and to prosecute contravening opinionmakers such as journalists and editors. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">It is highly ironical that the ruling party who clamoured so vociferously for the freedom of speech during apartheid should now be trying to convince South Africans that a free press was indeed a threat to democracy!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">6. <strong>SANDF</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Disturbing rumours were again doing the rounds this year that the defence force was nowhere near fighting trim. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The low morale in the SANDF is alleged to be very serious; in fact, in November an MP warned that it could even endanger state security. The publishing of a comprehensive report on the combat status of the SANDF is awaited with apprehension.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">7. <strong>Semi-government institutions<br /></strong><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Many semi-government institutions are continuing their negative tendencies. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Some of these institutions are hampered by thousands of vacancies, weakening their service delivery. In May 2010 Transnet had some 4 500 vacancies, Eskom had 1 200, while SAA lacked 600 workers. Solidarity cited affirmative action as a probable contributing factor behind the vacancies, with service delivery its ultimate victim.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">8. <strong>Labour</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Government's target of creating five million new jobs in the next decade is commendable; however, if this initiative was not left to the private sector, it cannot succeed. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The failure of the Essa project (Employment Services South Africa) seems inevitable.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Essa is a centralised database which is supposed to match jobseekers and employers. Since its inception four years ago, only 2% of the more than 1,2 million jobseekers have been placed successfully. Close to 170 000 jobseekers were registered in 2007/08, of whom only 3% were successful. More than 420 000 people were registered in 2008/09 - the lucky ones came to only 3,5%. And a meagre 1% of the more than 630 000 people registered in 2009/10 are now employed.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">9. <strong>Housing scandal </strong><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The housing corruption involving some 2 000 government officials is one of the most disgraceful public sins of 2010.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Minister of human settlements, Tokyo Sexwale, said in August this year that syndicates selling and leasing government housing were to be investigated. Numerous government officials, notably in Gauteng, North West and KwaZulu-Natal, are allegedly benefiting underhand from these deals. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The authorities' housing promises pose another fiasco. Sexwale announced in April this year that the housing backlog even exceeded the backlog in 1994: the figure has swelled from 1,5 million in 1994 to 2,1 million at present. Meanwhile the need for housing is growing daily; the number of informal settlements has already reached the 2 700-mark, of which at least 70 are inhabited by white people in shanty towns. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">10. <strong>Crime and law enforcement </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The authorities are still failing to crush South Africa's internationally feared criminals, despite a growing police force. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">According to data released by SAPS in September, 16 849 murders, 68 332 sex-related crimes and 64 670 muggings (robberies with violence) were recorded as at 31 March 2010 when the 2009/10 financial year ended. Residential and business burglaries increased by 1,9% and 4,4% respectively. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Experts are moreover concerned that a growing percentage of crime victims no longer even bother to report the misdeeds they have suffered. And in March it was revealed that one out of three police stations lacked suitable victim support facilities.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Successful policing by police members with a sense of duty is further hindered by affirmative action as well as poor law enforcement and ill-considered strategic planning.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Solidarity emphasised the gravity of the crisis, saying that <strong>extensive and permanent damage</strong> had already been done and that merely pulling up its socks is not good enough for 2011.</span></em></span></p>

SA Govt repeating past mistakes...Again, Still, Whatever!

Govt's TOP-10 TOP-15 serious blunders that caused extreme alarm in 2010 The water crisis, Misappropriation of state funds, Efforts to ...

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Robbers shoot engineer in face at point-blank range - Pretoria

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Man shot by robbers lies bleeding for hours<br /></span></strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjsUhyphenhyphen8psIFDx0ekIuvRsfmeCGoyV7Grs-wrqn8M-R-q5THstsJHmbOFCLZtmI3knSZ4pUOQA20pFbhFJfLRPslWiZElsvOzcgMS_hSfFAPZgbyqS7nCUUZ8mTk3nkmiUpsJJYW8XTRht/s1600/Willie-van-Zyl-robbers.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555887236285404018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjsUhyphenhyphen8psIFDx0ekIuvRsfmeCGoyV7Grs-wrqn8M-R-q5THstsJHmbOFCLZtmI3knSZ4pUOQA20pFbhFJfLRPslWiZElsvOzcgMS_hSfFAPZgbyqS7nCUUZ8mTk3nkmiUpsJJYW8XTRht/s400/Willie-van-Zyl-robbers.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>CRITICALLY wounded when he was shot in the face by a gang of robbers, an electrical engineer lay alone in his bed, bleeding profusely, for six hours until he was found by a relative and rushed to a Pretoria hospital.<br /><br />Willie van Zyl, 58, who was attacked during the early hours of yesterday morning, was rescued by his uncle Johan Pretorius, with whom he had been celebrating Christmas only days before.<br /><br />Van Zyl, who was due to move out of his Leeufontein estate home this week, was attacked while in his bedroom.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKI1SSn7nw54qwDWfIm3x3Av7t1Q8IPnEktjtgb_EmblWznUMP2mg7gryF8AXRI77D2iJnRCDcvD13NQi9ujKmSXGNASWU_pUTFQY_OtLOm6kMmQ3O6u9RhpYOtXKovAstqibq3sWMixk_/s1600/Willie-van-Zyl-shot.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555886102856536306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKI1SSn7nw54qwDWfIm3x3Av7t1Q8IPnEktjtgb_EmblWznUMP2mg7gryF8AXRI77D2iJnRCDcvD13NQi9ujKmSXGNASWU_pUTFQY_OtLOm6kMmQ3O6u9RhpYOtXKovAstqibq3sWMixk_/s400/Willie-van-Zyl-shot.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>It is believed that the fourman gang, who were armed with handguns, gained access to the heavily secured Cullinan Road property by cutting a hole in a fence in the back garden. Making their way to Van Zyl’s bedroom at the back of the house, the suspects waited outside before they smashed the window, overpowered Van Zyl and then shot him in the head at point-blank range.<br /><br />Blood smears across the walls, torn curtains, overturned furniture and smashed belongings bore testimony to the struggle between Van Zyl and his attackers.<br /><br />The blood-soaked mattress showed where Van Zyl had lain as his attackers carried out his possessions.<br /><br />A distraught Pretorius yesterday said: “As I came around the corner I saw chaos. There were appliances lying in the garden and glass outside the bedroom window.” he said.<br /><br />Cautiously walking around outside the house, fearing that the attackers were still on the property, Pretorius spotted his nephew through the smashed bedroom window.<br /><br />“I could not believe it. I thought he was dead. There was so much blood. I have never seen that much blood before.”<br /><br />Climbing through the window, Pretorius was shocked when Van Zyl began to talk to him, pleading for help.<br /><br />“I get sick when I think of how I found him and think about how he lay there for hours in all that blood and pain calling for help,” said Pretorius.<br /><br />A case of house robbery and attempted murder was being investigated.<br /><br />Several things, including a cellphone, were stolen.</span> <p>

Robbers shoot engineer in face at point-blank range - Pretoria

Man shot by robbers lies bleeding for hours CRITICALLY wounded when he was shot in the face by a gang of robbers, an electrical engineer lay...

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Pretoria Hairdresser found strangled to death

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">PRETORIA - Well-known Pretoria hair-salon owner Alden Smith, 37, was strangled to death in the passenger seat of his Audi A3, found parked at the Superspar shop in Menlopark on Christmas Day. The businessman had recently exposed the extortion practices of the Pretoria Metropolitan Police on the TV programme Carte Blanche on the Mnet channel in South Africa.</span><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzOZY9aUlY0_0vgL8kFnN9jy__FTqh5zRRxO1EW8a2kal8FQbNjFf5eJJ_aPCe9U2tXSmPQJnQTpY6UDkjdXJuQ_iDe0M9nRrOW6wy83rdC2BFwI21jDIq9hDOIL1uvp5ZJ8z2QbBuLjL/s1600/Smith+Alden+Pretoria+Options+Hair+Design+owner+strangled+to+death+in+car+Dec+25+2010_thumb%255B4%255D.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555893060822236738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzOZY9aUlY0_0vgL8kFnN9jy__FTqh5zRRxO1EW8a2kal8FQbNjFf5eJJ_aPCe9U2tXSmPQJnQTpY6UDkjdXJuQ_iDe0M9nRrOW6wy83rdC2BFwI21jDIq9hDOIL1uvp5ZJ8z2QbBuLjL/s320/Smith+Alden+Pretoria+Options+Hair+Design+owner+strangled+to+death+in+car+Dec+25+2010_thumb%255B4%255D.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 251px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Hilda Fourie of Beeld wrote that murdered hairdresser Alden Smith had spent Christmas day with his sister Onica Jakob, and her husband Chris, in Wonderboom. He left around 17:15 in his Audi, which according to police had been stolen a month earlier and recovered by the police. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Brig André Wiese, the Brooklyn police station commander who heads the investigation said they don’t exactly know the circumstances of Smith’s death as yet. ‘One possibility being examined is that Smith was attacked and kidnapped at his house in Charles Street and then driven to the ATM cash-withdrawal point in Menlopark”. He was seated on the passenger seat, strangled to death, when a police patrol found him. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">That same Christmas evening at around 22:30 the alarm had gone off at Smith’s hair salon next to his home and the security company had contacted his sister – who also works at her brother’s salon – because the company was unable to contact Mr Smith. Mr Jakob drove to the salon while Mrs Jakob kept trying from home to contact him on his cellphone. “What we didn’t know was that he was already dead by that time,’ she said. </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">"I will never forget how I saw my brother in that car. His glasses were broken and his shoes were stolen off his feet. Through something like this everyone's life is devastated. For me it is not yet true."<br /></span><p></p>

Pretoria Hairdresser found strangled to death

PRETORIA - Well-known Pretoria hair-salon owner Alden Smith, 37, was strangled to death in the passenger seat of his Audi A3, found parked a...

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'Why I left South Africa'

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">There are views for and against SA as it stands now. Here is my 50 cents on the state of affairs.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlnPT7vu_DScC03C57c09ae9za99JdWJkQGpWueYtE8jpnPrsTbGipl5I7UQR54nPs6Qlp20mX0eBC4YLuBO9Bcz8kXJ0bfHwUPryWTVpOrY7WsUc30hNhW8AEUZ4NiCQqGry1JKfgOZ9/s1600/EXPATS.gif"></a>Pros:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xh144ieKf8YksdhWUrRjzj0L-eFMXhODscwHjus5wVvLzQrYOyQmprGSCQH5T-TbNNXa3XrRWuediyvU0ZRKZY5qTzHVKTnlgjHICKpOheA5kCXTq_7HTXarul9QMpK9BnuedLnEU2dJ/s1600/EXPATS.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550750283061566210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xh144ieKf8YksdhWUrRjzj0L-eFMXhODscwHjus5wVvLzQrYOyQmprGSCQH5T-TbNNXa3XrRWuediyvU0ZRKZY5qTzHVKTnlgjHICKpOheA5kCXTq_7HTXarul9QMpK9BnuedLnEU2dJ/s400/EXPATS.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 250px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 170px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>1. Weather is generally great all over SA.<br /><br />2. Freedom of Movement.<br /><br />3. Great outdoors.<br /><br />4. Big 5.<br /><br />5. Huge opportunities.<br /><br />6. Infectious SA humour and camaraderie.<br /><br />There are many more, and to each person they hold a different weighing of importance. Just so that you all know, I left SA, for these reasons...<br /><br />Cons:<br /><br />1. Crime. Why is there a massive disparity between the police stats and the SAMA stats? Even so, the level of violence that goes with a house breaking etc. is off the scale, and don’t let them bull dust you, it is getting worse. (I have friends who own security companies, and their stats are all going up rapidly; why are the cops going down?)<br /><br />2. Water. Why was the report by Dr Anthony Turton blocked by the CSIR? We have acid mine drainage and Government just set up a task team to “look into the matter” time has gone for this, action is required.<br /><br />3. Sewerage. Government refused to release a report on the state of sewage, saying that it would cause panic amongst people, who didn’t understand. Yeah right. You have to love this minister, who says you only have a crisis when there is a country-wide outbreak of cholera. Just look to Haiti to see how well that idea worked! Read the <a href="http://www.dwaf.gov.za/Documents/GreenDropReport.pdf%20">report here</a><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">4. Corruption. There is almost zero appetite for tackling corruption. People get “redeployed” rather than fired and jailed.<br /><br />5. Education. The highest per capita allocation in the world, and the results are dismal. I say no more.<br /><br />6. Economy and social grants. People in SA need grants, that’s a fact, but you cannot have 4.5 million tax payers feeding 14 million (and counting) people. At some point, you have to give less to be able to give more. The tax base in SA is too small for all these election promises, SA has to become more prudent.<br /><br />7. BEE. The idea was noble, the execution a disaster. For a white guy to get a shot at goals in SA he has to start a company. Once successful, he has to take on a BEE partner to get business, and the inevitable “SA handshake” Note, not all do business like this, but I have been around enough businesses to know this is de rigueur.<br /><br />8. SARS at roadblocks. I have queried this with about 40-odd people who live in other countries, and they don’t know of any in those countries that have dedicated people from SARS/IRS etc at a roadblock. This tells me the fiscus is desperate for money.<br /><br />9. Land reform. Why not use a partnership model? Who does Government expect someone to walk onto a farm and suddenly know how to run it profitably? The distribution plan is noble, and again, terribly executed.<br /><br />10. Infrastructure. Not enough money to fix the roads. And oh yes, we pay taxes on our licenses, and then again on petrol, why then do we pay AGAIN for toll roads? Where is the money going to?<br /><br />11. Plastic bags tax. Where is all that money people?<br /><br />12. Quasi-militant unions. Utterances like, “we will make the country ungovernable” and “they will be war”, “we cannot guarantee we can control our members” wake up! This is a low-grade war. Since when do soldiers storm the Union Buildings? That is high treason people. We cannot afford to pay more for civil servants but they hold a gun to our head. Why do these people loot and trash the streets, cars and shops? Basal thuggery, endorsed by their handlers.<br /><br />There are many more points I can raise, but stand back a little and look at all the pieces of this jigsaw puzzle and SEE what your eyes and ears are telling your brain. It has been declining slowly for years. Forget the NP or the ANC. Who is running it matters not, how they are running it matters. Unless the so-called great unwashed realise they are getting a raw deal every 5 years, it will keep getting worse.<br /><br />I am grateful to my Father in heaven for the chance to leave. I will not throw stones when asked by people about my former country, but I will be candid about the facts.<br /><br />It is indeed, Cry The Beloved Country. I sleep now with open windows; don’t worry about the guy selling a paper at the traffic light (robot) or the lights behind me on the way home. SA citizens, you are going to have to stand up and demand accountability. Call me what you wish, but I am happier now than I have been in 20 years.<br /><br />My children have a genuine shot at goals. To those who choose to remain and those who cannot leave, I salute you.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"></span><p></p>

'Why I left South Africa'

There are views for and against SA as it stands now. Here is my 50 cents on the state of affairs. Pros: 1. Weather is generally great all ov...

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More Farm Murders - The Hidden Genocide Continues

<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #990000;">Ignored by the media and hidden from the world which was encouraged to delight in the lovable vuvuzela tooting black South Africans during the recent World Cup matches, the violent, racist, genocide of that country's white population continues apace.</span></strong><br /><br />It is estimated that at least 35,000 whites have been murdered in South Africa since the end of Apartheid in 1994.  Of these, at least 3,131 are white South African farmers and their families, some reports put the figure as high as 3,700, with the result that being a white South African farmer is now statistically the most dangerous occupation on the planet.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jGSESnCQvzaGObH6LhDiRDF8N-LilumIzgouANb0xjoYBb-T3s4OicUj_Tc1cEjfaPe50ZNknNo6yMqGB_GNc_scUxxsB9KA95_xqswGcURWyuTcnhM9K4ZuWYjHhxAtDgpBtdwhEHNM/s1600/potgieter-family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jGSESnCQvzaGObH6LhDiRDF8N-LilumIzgouANb0xjoYBb-T3s4OicUj_Tc1cEjfaPe50ZNknNo6yMqGB_GNc_scUxxsB9KA95_xqswGcURWyuTcnhM9K4ZuWYjHhxAtDgpBtdwhEHNM/s320/potgieter-family.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two particularly shocking attacks occurred in one day this week leaving four victims dead. The first being the murder of the Potgieter family at their farm in Lindley in the Free State. The farmer, his wife and their three year old daughter were brutally murdered. Attie Potgieter was slashed and hacked to death with a machete or panga and his wife and three year old daugther were dispatched, execution style, with bullets to the back of the head. It chills the blood to imagine what sort of mind can murder a three year old child in such a manner. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also chilling is the note left behind by the Potgieter family's killers which simply stated </span><a href="http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=54335" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>“We have killed them. We are coming back”</em></span></strong></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Mike Smith has written a powerful article about this murder at </em><a href="http://boerboel1.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: #ffcc66;"><span style="color: blue;"><em>South Africa Sucks</em></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusRJEK07OINdZMW8COyzViuQ9Vw9j-2HTMnNuSQXALpt5FxYu1CaccHWE-jAyNDUdRBfG6XUqG9L1caFo4qhf6ttNcLLQFUhdqa2SADTybMAIbRFOYiTbbYWOuCXusmdjyQrMygZhyphenhyphenDLW/s1600/marthie+Erasmus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusRJEK07OINdZMW8COyzViuQ9Vw9j-2HTMnNuSQXALpt5FxYu1CaccHWE-jAyNDUdRBfG6XUqG9L1caFo4qhf6ttNcLLQFUhdqa2SADTybMAIbRFOYiTbbYWOuCXusmdjyQrMygZhyphenhyphenDLW/s200/marthie+Erasmus.jpg" width="171" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the same day as the Potgieter family were killed in Lindley, Thursday December 2nd, another farm murder occurred in Koster, the centre of South Africa's maze production, situated in the North West Province, a group of armed black males </span><a href="http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/16-pond-hamer-eis-vasgebinde-vrou-63-20101203" target="_blank"><span style="color: grey; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">attacked an Afrikaans farm couple</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> on the farm Hartbeesfontein, in the Moedwil district of Koster. Mrs Marthie Erasmus, 63, was tied up on her bed and then the gang bludgeoned the defenceless woman to death with a 16 pound sledgehammer. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Husband Chris Erasmus, also 63, was tied to his chair and brutally beaten about the face and eyes. However he survived the attack and managed to free himself after the attackers fled.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If this was happening to any other race in any other country it would be world news. Because these are the white victims of black hate in the "Rainbow nation" the world does not want to know (or maybe it does not want you to know).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="pane-content"><div class="item-list"><ul><li class="first"><a href="http://fromtheold.com/news/farm-worker-tries-kill-farmer-gun-fails-twice-2010042217903.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Farm worker tries to kill Farmer, gun fails twice</span></a></li><li><a href="http://fromtheold.com/news/chaos-mooi-rivier-farmers-wife-and-two-others-2010072219889.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chaos on Mooi Rivier, farmer's wife and two others killed</span></a></li><li><a href="http://fromtheold.com/news/another-south-african-farmer-murdered-koos-van-staden-2010032117251.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another South African farmer murdered - Koos van Staden</span></a></li><li><a href="http://fromtheold.com/news/another-farmer-murdered-wife-gang-raped-and-daughter-assaulted-south-africa-2010041717845.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another farmer murdered, wife gang raped and daughter assaulted in South Africa</span></a></li><li><a href="http://fromtheold.com/news/farm-attack-klerksdorp-farmer-shot-leg-2010052718233.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Farm attack in Klerksdorp, farmer shot in leg</span></a></li><li><a href="http://fromtheold.com/news/south-africa-boer-genocide-farming-couple-brutally-murdered-and-tortured-2010010816265.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">South Africa Boer Genocide - Farming couple brutally murdered and tortured</span></a></li><li><a href="http://fromtheold.com/news/potchefstroom-farmer-tortured-and-murdered-2010051718146.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Potchefstroom farmer tortured and murdered</span></a></li><li><a href="http://fromtheold.com/news/farm-killings-south-africa-political-and-racist-2010030816785.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Farm killings in South Africa is political and racist</span></a></li><li><a href="http://fromtheold.com/news/farm-murders-and-genocide-south-africa-closer-look-case-study-2010031016898.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Farm murders and genocide in South Africa - A closer look case study</span></a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://fromtheold.com/news/south-african-farm-murders-continue-farmer-gunned-down-cold-blood-2010080320017.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">South African farm murders continue, farmer gunned down in cold blood </span></a></li></ul></div><div class="last"><br /></div></div></div></div>

More Farm Murders - The Hidden Genocide Continues

Ignored by the media and hidden from the world which was encouraged to delight in the lovable vuvuzela tooting black South Africans during t...

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Why are SA cops “shocked” at murder and hijacking of British tourist?

<p><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Over 700 people have been murdered in Gugulethu since 2005</span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;"></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;"></span></strong></div><div align="left"></div><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540319033938058642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcnYYJzd6GAShaP95pCb4Jx959La22si0lRkcpz6_2GZtmNBnhzVGK1hVJREnA8n1J8vhm4LNOQmQJNF9QH8W0SI9GYqOeMaMBBhjIaRgv6LRLwGVzr9pPai32kKR6UENH6-tEbhuh7Ns/s400/cape-gugulethu.gif" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 173px; CURSOR: hand" /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540315875350663730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5bf1FFmUJmLLSshLkw0YZcz_NAcz0xxGnewNtU0QTXcixTgkioyurx3ziX22L1X36ElHdUdUV0uzNnFKPBq5NPVE5lmeHh6PPwj0X4foAU0BizflxcIbj5NCqAkiEV3TokL55MQdE_rd/s400/mzoli-meat_1762191i.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 305px; CURSOR: hand" /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540321530760197650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBd9AO6CnaP4bBVZJer2Gkak5VaAmLSnHuWSyPil-csux5c6j9IChwgx3VwFoRUL0H94z1MSnlPIbEifg4le229mBr3lvnsTDySI8CFn9lafrgSIkVpVxZRsxtFPQ83WL6AfNNyJKQSMy/s400/MZOLI%2527S.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" /> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"><em><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Mzoli's - Gugulethu township in Cape Town</span></strong> an outdoor barbecue restaurant and bar which bills itself as an ‘authentic taste of township life’. Jamie Oliver visited it last year and in a seven-page spread in his magazine, described the food as ‘heaven’ and ‘totally sexy’. He added: ‘In this part of the world, fresh is where it’s at. </em></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"><em>Just kill it. Gut it. Skin it. Eat it.’ ‘When I go back to Cape Town, I am absolutely going to Mzoli’s.’<br /><br /></em></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The </span><a href="http://www.sairr.org.za/media/media-releases/Police%20out%20of%20touch%20with%20reality%20over%20Gugulethu%20murder.pdf/view"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">SA Institute of Race Relations</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"> questioned why the South African police were “<strong>shocked</strong>” at the murder and hijacking of a British tourist.<br /><br />As international and local media agencies have reported a British national and his wife were attacked in the township of Gugulethu on the urban periphery of Cape Town while honeymooning in the city. The couple were kidnapped by armed robbers and the wife was later found murdered. In response to media coverage the </span><a href="http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71656?oid=211229&sn=Detail&pid=71616"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">South African Police Force has released a statement</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> expressing "<strong>shock</strong>" at the murder.<br /><br />The police are out of touch with reality for expressing <strong>shock</strong> at the murder of a tourist in Gugulethu in Cape Town, the SA Institute of Race Relations said on Tuesday.<br /><br />"Data in the possession of the South African Institute of Race Relations shows that over 700 people have been murdered in Gugulethu since 2005. In the year to March 2010 some 110 murders occurred within the Gugulethu police precinct," the SAIRR said.<br /><br />"This amounts to one murder every two-and-a-half days for five consecutive years. How under such circumstances can the police claim to be ‘<strong>shocked</strong>’ or <strong>surprised</strong> at what happened to the British couple?"<br /><br />The SAIRR said if the police were truly <strong>shocked</strong>, then it suggested that "the police’s senior management is out of touch with the reality of life on the ground for people in areas such as Gugulethu who have been left to run the gauntlet of violent crime on a horrific scale".<br /><br />The institute said it was "revealing" that it took the murder of a foreign national for the police's senior management to take stock of the state of affairs in Gugulethu. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">'This murder of a newlywed woman has become the symbol of our country'</span></strong></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Many South Africans rightly deserve to feel deeply let down by the performance of their government and insulted when it feigns <strong>shock</strong> and <strong>surprise</strong> at violence that has become commonplace in South Africa.<br /><br />We live in a country where human life means absolutely nothing to violent thugs.<br /><br />But this one murder - of a beautiful young woman who had just married - has become the symbol of our country to the outside world.<br /><br />This is evidenced by the British media's coverage of the murder.<br /><br />The Daily Mail report on the tragic death of the British bride ended by concluding: "South Africa has one of the worst crime rates in the world."<br /><br />Similar observations have appeared in other publications with The Telegraph reporting that 46 murders are committed each day in South Africa, "a statistic that led to a substantial rise in security during the World Cup".<br /><br />South Africa is indeed a violent country and far too many South Africans are intimately acquainted with this knowledge.<br /><br />And this murder resurrects the doubts and prejudice that surfaced before the World Cup earlier this year.<br /><br />It also reinforces the idea that the safety foreign visitors enjoyed during the tournament in June was a mirage. This murder then shows how life has returned to normal after the soccer fans departed.<br /><br />Anni Dewani's body will be returned to her home and her widower will leave too. Life, as they say, will go on. But it is a life that has become frighteningly abnormal because of our acceptance of barbaric acts of cruelty and violence as a normal feature of South Africa.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><em>*Gugulethu made headlines in 1993 when an American exchange student, Amy Biehl, was stabbed and stoned to death. On August 25, 1993, she was driving black friends home to Guguletu township when the car was attacked by a group of youths chanting "one settler, one bullet" -- urging death to all white citizens. The youths stoned the car and struck Ms. Biehl on the head. She fled, bleeding, but the youths cornered her and stabbed and stoned her to death. She was 26 years old. </em></span><em><br /></p></em></span><p align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em></p></em></span>

Why are SA cops “shocked” at murder and hijacking of British tourist?

Over 700 people have been murdered in Gugulethu since 2005 Mzoli's - Gugulethu township in Cape Town an outdoor barbecue restaurant an...

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British bride abducted and murdered by armed carjackers while on honeymoon in Cape Town - South Africa

<p><strong><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">UK tourist's killing makes world headlines</span></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539834008732707282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrvNVadz9JvrlOl7Q_8I8OrfMRa1v9W17mL8Uyx-Ptfsj8jIkimSXU0G_WFUVngXr-bdwHMXmBcKGjEUw5ZCZ7PgEFzYFAdkEkkOG9NuciZqeUhQZt4TfXRecVBMqRNUCoP9nh5mazyXn/s400/cara_south_af_1164497a.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" /></span></p></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">SOUTH Africa is suffering a crime epidemic. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Last year there were 14,915 car-jackings, 41 a day, and 18,148 murders. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Most were in townships. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">There were 50,000 rapes. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Thousands more went unreported. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">And there were 200,000 cases of assault and more than 18,000 house break-ins. </span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Brit newlywed's body found after honeymoon carjacking murder</span></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">News of the killing of a British tourist was all over the UK media this morning, with newspapers reminding readers of South Africa's high "carjacking" and murder rates.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"></span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1329361/Newlywed-Britons-wife-shot-dead-robbers-hijack-South-Africa.html"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><strong>The Daily Mail</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"> website announced the story with the headline: "Honeymoon horror: Newlywed Briton's wife is killed after robbers hijack them in taxi".</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"></span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/14/woman-killed-honeymoon-south-africa"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><strong>The Guardian</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"> newspaper's website also reported on the story saying<br />"South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world, with an average of 46 murders a day. Last year, there were 13 902 carjackings in South Africa, down from 14 915 in 2008-09. The annual murder rate fell by 8.6% to dip below 17 000 for the first time since nationwide records began in 1995-96,"<br /><br />Broadcaster </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11753933"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><strong>BBC</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"> , </span><a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3227667/Bride-butchered-on-honeymoon-in-South-Africa.html#ixzz15NDwc2Cf"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><strong>The Sun</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"> and </span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/8133226/British-wife-of-a-millionaire-businessman-killed-in-South-Africa.html"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><strong>The Telegraph</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"> also reported on the incident, which drew many comments from online readers.<br /></p><blockquote>"Jules", from California in the United States, said of South Africans on the Daily Mail website: "The bottom line is until these people decide to help themselves, nothing will change."<br /><br />"Austin", also from the United States, added: "Of all the beautiful places in the world, WHY would anyone in their right minds go for a honeymoon in such a vile, god-forsaken place?"<br /><br />Several expats commented out of Australia, saying they left South Africa to ensure safe lives for their children, and that the country was a "mess".</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Bride butchered on her honeymoon in South Africa </span></strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A bride on honeymoon with her wealthy British husband has been murdered in a South Africa. Anni Dewani, 28, and hubby Shrien, 31, had just left a restaurant with a driver in a VW Sharan when they were hijacked by two gunmen. The driver was bundled out of the vehicle, which then drove off at speed with the newlyweds inside. </span><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An hour later — around 11 miles away — the killers stopped and threw Mr Dewani from the vehicle. He raised the alarm by flagging down a passing motorist. A police patrol later spotted the Sharan abandoned two miles away in the township of Khayelitsha near Cape Town. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The blood-soaked body of Mrs Dewani was found on the back seat. She was covered in bruises and is feared to have been raped. Locals told police they had heard shots. It is believed she was hit in the head, but other reports last night said she may have been stabbed. </span></span><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Read more </span><a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3227667/Bride-butchered-on-honeymoon-in-South-Africa.html"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><strong><em>here</em></strong></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em><br /></em></strong><br /></span><span style="color:#333333;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><em>Related Articles</em></span> </span><br /><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/8134109/South-African-townships-still-dangerous-post-apartheid.html"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><em>South African townships remain dangerous</em></span></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 15 Nov 2010 </span><br /></span></em><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/8134265/South-African-murder-travel-advice.html"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><em>South African murder: travel advice</em></span></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 15 Nov 2010 </span><br /></span></em><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/8133635/Police-report-of-South-African-honeymoon-killing.html"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><em>Police report of South African honeymoon killing</em></span></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 15 Nov 2010 </span><br /></span></em><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/8132687/British-woman-on-honeymoon-in-Cape-Town-killed-by-carjackers.html"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><em>British woman on honeymoon in Cape Town killed by carjackers</em></span></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 14 Nov 2010 </span><br /></span></em><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/8134397/South-African-murder-highlights-dangerous-side-of-Cape-Town.html"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><em>South African murder highlights dangerous side of Cape Town</em></span></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 15 Nov 2010</span><br /></span></em><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/8133226/British-wife-of-a-millionaire-businessman-killed-in-South-Africa.html"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><em>British wife of a millionaire businessman killed in South Africa</em></span></a></p><p></p>

British bride abducted and murdered by armed carjackers while on honeymoon in Cape Town - South Africa

UK tourist's killing makes world headlines SOUTH Africa is suffering a crime epidemic. Last year there were 14,915 car-jackings, 41 a da...

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Tourists mugged on top of Table Mountain

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Three South African expatriates and a Canadian were robbed at knifepoint at the top of Table Mountain. The Lewis family, originally of South Africa, moved to Canada in 1998 to avoid becoming victims of crime. However, their fears became a reality when they were attacked on top of the mountain during their brief return to South Africa for a family visit.</span></strong></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLcDwGYmUFxhUxrpXQLjGnQ60NRjpIAOpAsFP6wnGBLS3q1MHkz23hwLwyhMxbNXFAn7IqzOAxlwi8h4YokeO7da1BATQ7HI31ZfvLl2SDJWiJ0GY81Gpxmn-KgmlfgbUZn57ZSKArjDX/s1600/crime-T+Mountain.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536156741402873682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLcDwGYmUFxhUxrpXQLjGnQ60NRjpIAOpAsFP6wnGBLS3q1MHkz23hwLwyhMxbNXFAn7IqzOAxlwi8h4YokeO7da1BATQ7HI31ZfvLl2SDJWiJ0GY81Gpxmn-KgmlfgbUZn57ZSKArjDX/s400/crime-T+Mountain.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">(pic right) Richard Lewis, his daughter Bronwyn and her boyfriend Harrison Boyse recall how two men attacked them at knifepoint at the top of Table Mountain.</span></span></em><br /><br />“I know this could happen to anyone but what gets to me is that it was on a national heritage site, supposed to be one of the safest places in the country. It was brazen and during the day. It was on a walking trail with no warning and no security to prevent something like this. It is very disappointing,” Richard Lewis, the father of the family, told the Cape Argus.<br /><br />Lewis, his wife, Barbara, son Gareth, 24, daughter Bronwyn, 23, and her Canadian boyfriend, Harrison Boyse, 22, decided to take the cable car up Table Mountain early on Tuesday morning. At about 9am, Barbara decided to rest at a shop on top of the mountain while the rest of the group made their way towards Maclear’s Beacon, where two armed men attacked them.<br /><br />“They both carried switchblade knives which they kept waving around saying: ‘Do you want to die here?’, and ‘Don’t make us stab you’. We decided to just give them what they wanted instead of risking our lives,” Lewis said.<br /><br />The group handed over their backpacks, wallets, cellphones, watches and camera. Still not satisfied, the robbers searched their pockets and demanded their passports. Boyse said the thieves became agitated but were willing to return passports and a memory card if someone took it from the camera.<br /><br />"They were getting really edgy and as soon as we got the memory card we began running back to the cable car.”<br /><br />When the group looked back, the robbers were moving up the mountain and going through the backpacks.<br /><br />The family managed to alert police, park rangers began to search the area immediately and a helicopter scanned the area, but found no signs of the robbers.<br /><br />Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz described the incident as “absolutely absurd”, adding that the option of increasing security should be seriously considered.<br /><br />“We can’t have tourists coming and being mugged at a national heritage site.”<br /><br />Table Mountain National Park spokeswoman Merle Collins said that they were aware of, and disturbed by, the incident.</span><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">This is an edited version of the article from the Cape Argus/IOL <a href="http://www.iol.co.za/">www.iol.co.za/</a> - 29 September 2010<br /></span></em></span><p>

Tourists mugged on top of Table Mountain

Three South African expatriates and a Canadian were robbed at knifepoint at the top of Table Mountain. The Lewis family, originally of South...

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Violence top cause of death in Gauteng

<p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Just under one third of recorded non-natural deaths in Gauteng are caused by violence, the SA Medical Research Council(MRC) said.</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk8RU7N9dFZQl0kWUCZhavP03nmMZAyaNrt4VeYwb7DRSr3Tf9wHfU5uj9HvS5sCm_tUvYdvDkJNd5Jkns3TVFFbLrBFRUhXbiVhSqA_T2tEDo-noR3Y4OyL1sHlUo_3SgAZYwRXml7HV/s1600/crime-blood.jpg"><span style="font-size:180%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535818413967767650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk8RU7N9dFZQl0kWUCZhavP03nmMZAyaNrt4VeYwb7DRSr3Tf9wHfU5uj9HvS5sCm_tUvYdvDkJNd5Jkns3TVFFbLrBFRUhXbiVhSqA_T2tEDo-noR3Y4OyL1sHlUo_3SgAZYwRXml7HV/s400/crime-blood.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 281px; CURSOR: hand" /></span></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">V</span>iolence and homicide</strong> accounted for 32.4 percent of non-natural deaths caused by injury, with transport second at 28.7 percent and suicide third at 11.3 percent.<br /><br />The figures were part of a presentation on fatal injuries in Gauteng last year, an initiative by MRC and the University of Johannesburg, supported by the department of health.<br /><br />Of 10 528 non-natural deaths in Gauteng where the external cause was known, firearms were the top cause of death with 1 630 at 15.5%, followed by pedestrian injury at 12.7% and sharp objects resulted in 1 091 deaths at 10.4% and blunt force 1 064.<br /><br />In youth aged 15 and 29 years, adults (30-44 years) and older adults aged 45-59 years, firearms were the leading causes of death.<br /><br />Injuries were the second leading cause of death in South Africa, behind HIV.<br /><br />The figures were based on 11,329 non-natural deaths registered at nine medico-legal laboratories in Gauteng.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>source - <a href="http://www.timeslive.co.za/">www.timeslive.co.za/</a> </em></span><p></p>

Violence top cause of death in Gauteng

Just under one third of recorded non-natural deaths in Gauteng are caused by violence, the SA Medical Research Council(MRC) said. V iolence ...

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Rising above crime

<p><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Inspired by the birds, one man built a thief-proof house without alarms, electric fencing, or security beams in crime-ridden South Africa.</span></strong><br /><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533665835560884002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCI4d8DzP_hDqDTF2rYGrMyPuQFeXIeZ5Uf_fd3yC2sNGN0IdaCqnElyUKWxhVpL-yB2CxtyBfnoS9n018H5RFBJBJJmCiCkg9-IwNWVHSDu_SW4NH43Zf-8ULrr_ZC7LWVFsAnVLFvvHU/s400/HOUSE-CAPE-TOWN-ARCHITECTURE-CRIME_full_600.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" /></p><p align="center"></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Eileen Mijlof stands by her burglar-proof home in Cape Town. Her husband came up with the idea for the design after watching squirrels and birds sitting in trees.</strong> </span></em></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em><span style="color:#000066;"></span></em></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em><span style="color:#000066;"></p></span></em></span><p></p>

Rising above crime

Inspired by the birds, one man built a thief-proof house without alarms, electric fencing, or security beams in crime-ridden South Africa. E...

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SA's white farmers Trek to Eastern Europe

<p><strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">The number of commercial farmers in South Africa have plummeted from a high of 85,000 in 1994 to 11,600 today. The numbers become even more of a shock given the number was approximately 13,500 a few months back.</span></strong><br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" height="451" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533613846018341698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE662eLubXbGeiYj4BQLdhgJZmb3w83CBoG1-xqS45BjgtmV8PsLgVnRTRLAW5wi1H9diBaukqsYjpQqayhSvP3rQfgI0UcObiKuDAH6avx-qmYIUIi5btmBfZBz9ZxILWiM3GgFrpQv1t/s640/KillingFields_2_400.png" style="display: block; height: 282px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="640" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">The mostly White, Afrikaaner-Boer farmers find themselves increasingly marginalized in a society that views them as “land barons”, a government that looks to expropriate their land, and “war like conditions” which include a corrupt police force. “The increase in armed attacks, robbery and theft of farm products and implements holds serious financial implications for agriculture in our country. This high crime rate is experienced by the industry as economic sabotage,” said Agri-SA.<br /><br />In addition to the loss of commercial farmers, more than 1 million black African farm workers have become unemployed and have had to move their families to squatter camps. In total, approximately 5 million people have been displaced.<br /><br /><em><span style="color: #660000;">Now the last of SA's white farmers are about to depart for greener pastures in Georgia, Eastern Europe. Watch Georgia go from strength to strength as South Africa sinks into poverty and starvation.</span></em></span> <br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><a href="http://cofcc.org/2010/10/exodus-of-thousands-of-white-south-african-farmers-could-be-near/"><span style="font-size: 130%;">Plans for the resettlement of white farmers of South Africa to Georgia</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">"Most would like to stay but they were being chased by crime, corruption, water pollution and an unfriendly government," deputy secretary Bennie Van Zyl said, adding that "no government department at this stage was not a threat to the farmer."<br /><br />"This is a great opportunity for farmers, because the government in Georgia knows that, without commercial farmers, the country can't go forward... commercial farmers are (a country's) biggest asset. It's a pity our government doesn't have this approach."<br /><br />Georgia needs expertise as it wants to uplift its agricultural sector which was destroyed by <span style="color: #990000;">socialism and communism</span> about 70 years ago.</span><p>

SA's white farmers Trek to Eastern Europe

The number of commercial farmers in South Africa have plummeted from a high of 85,000 in 1994 to 11,600 today. The numbers become even more ...

Read more »