South Africa P.I.G.: HOUSING

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R800m for VIP jets when millions do not have housing, health and basic services

<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/AVvXsEjGBrcL2yjIyRHLoEPPNHYqnuQlOCg8Ih1biO0OTmi1Gwt7v1z21U17DqMG6Ad2UBBTaFzson84n01QtUbIHSZ-DFeqmAKQ9pVsj_wzdgPr1DQwsNyT0k7Q0DrISzmQPJpIoORMsTh6xJnL/s1600/anc-greed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBrcL2yjIyRHLoEPPNHYqnuQlOCg8Ih1biO0OTmi1Gwt7v1z21U17DqMG6Ad2UBBTaFzson84n01QtUbIHSZ-DFeqmAKQ9pVsj_wzdgPr1DQwsNyT0k7Q0DrISzmQPJpIoORMsTh6xJnL/s320/anc-greed.jpg" width="320" /></a>Why are we spending R800m on aircraft for VIPs when millions of people do not have housing, health and basic services?</div> Government VIPs will soon be jetting around the country in two luxury jets complete with sleeping quarters, computer and satellite communication services and a conference cabin with space for six people. The department of defence has leased the jets on a five-year contract to supplement its VIP squadron. According to a report in Beeld newspaper, the contract with AdoAir, a small Lanseria-based company, is worth R808m. The company belongs to the Adonai Group, founded by Nigerian businessman Adegboyega Olulade. AdoAir “came out top” out of five competing tenders, the department spokesperson Ndivhuwo wa ha Mabaya said yesterday. He said an ageing air transport fleet had made it necessary for the South African Air Force to charter flights for VIP air transport, and this had been expensive. Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu revealed in December that chartered flights for VIPs spiked from R3.6m in 2009 to R16.9m last year. Mabaya added that the lease agreement also included the maintenance of the luxury jets over the five-year period. He said: “The two jets will be used by the VIP squadron. Our current fleet of VIP planes are very old and we don’t have the money to buy new planes.” These jets will also be used when the presidential jet, Inkwazi, is undergoing maintenance. - City Press Readers comments fandash1 - R808m over 5 years equates to R161,6m per year yet the cost which had spiked was only R16.9m and that over 5 years equates to R84.5m. Maybe the honourable Minister sholuld ask for a refund on her school fees as basic sums (no not maths) were not mastered. What a rip off for the tax payer. 9 1/2 times the cost dear Minister, who gets the rest. SHOCKING EXPENDITURE. Apache - Have I got this right? R808m over 5 years = R161.6m per year, but they only spent R16.9m on chartered flights last year! So we, the taxpayers, will be forking out 10 times more per annum than we have been...no wonder this country is in the mess it is. What clown did the maths on this decision? And yet the masses will again vote for these clowns in the upcoming elections, despite the fact that they still don't have the houses or services they are repeatedly promised. Funny thing that... marc - US$ 115 million? You could get two very exceptional jets, that fulfill the mandate, for a 3rd of that price. ADO AIR is a Nigerian company......Look it doenst take an rocket scientist to work out there is something very, very fishy about this deal. Daylight Robbery! Check out controller.com for jet prices. <div class="fl"><a class="author_link bold" href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Benzo</a> -  <div class="clr"></div>Why sleeping facilities for "flying around the country"? How many conferences with not more than 6 people? Why computers? We all have our own laptops with our own data and software on hand!!</div><div class="fl"><a class="author_link bold" href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Bill Xhosa</a> -  </div><div class="clr"></div><div class="comment_text">She either wants a piece of the action or doesn't have good people to guarantee return on investment. We can't have SAPS getting all the shady deals. I thought SAPS did VIP transport? Hence the purchase of the R150 million Citation jet two years ago. Google ADOAIR. They own one Hawker 800XP. Used price between R35 to R50 million. Google pre-owned gulfstream. You will find used top of the line G550 at about R350 million. So the defense department wants to lease two planes for over twice the price of purchasing two G550.</div><div class="comment_text"><div class="fl"><a class="author_link bold" href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gen</a> - </div><div class="clr"></div><div class="comment_text">It must have been the bantu education that the present elite had that helped them calculate that R16,9million times 5 is greater than 808 million. PS When chartering an aircraft , the maintenance is already added. The money the ANC plan to spend will not remain in South Africa, if you say I'm wrong, check the ownership of charter company.</div><div class="comment_text"></div><div class="comment_text"><div class="fl"><a class="author_link bold" href="http://twitter.com/ev_ert" target="_blank">Embee Diamonds</a> - </div><div class="clr"></div><div class="comment_text">Assuming it is the Hawker 800XPi's- these sell for around $8m dollars pre-owned in the first world. To the math...someone is lining someone's pockets somewhere...</div><div class="comment_text"></div><div class="comment_text"><div class="fl"><a class="author_link bold" href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">marc</a> -  </div><div class="clr"></div><div class="comment_text">US$ 115 million? You could get two very exceptional jets, that fulfill the mandate, for a 3rd of that price. ADO AIR is a Nigerian company......Look it doenst take an rocket scientist to work out there is something very, very fishy about this deal. Daylight Robbery! Check out controller.com for jet prices.</div></div></div></div><div class="comment_text"></div><div class="comment_text"><div class="fl"><a class="author_link bold" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=557575807" target="_blank">Ralph</a> - </div><div class="clr"></div><div class="comment_text">In 1994 the ANC took over the goose that laid the golden egg, but I am afraid that they are forgetting to feed the goose and pretty soon it will die and then they will have nothing. </div></div><div align="justify"> Source:<a href="http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Luxury-VIP-jets-for-SA-elite-20110403">http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Luxury-VIP-jets-for-SA-elite-20110403</a></div>

R800m for VIP jets when millions do not have housing, health and basic services

Why are we spending R800m on aircraft for VIPs when millions of people do not have housing, health and basic services? Government VIPs will ...

12:14 AM

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

Govt's <strike>TOP-10</strike> TOP-15 serious blunders that caused extreme alarm in 2010 <ol><li>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></li><li>Misappropriation of state funds, </li><li>Efforts to gag the media,</li><li>The ongoing fiascos at semi-government institutions, </li><li>The government's handling of youth matters, </li><li>Road maintenance and potholes, </li><li>South Africa's military readiness, </li><li>CRIME, </li><li>The widespread housing scandal </li><li>Labour problems, </li><li>Hosting of the R69m World Youth Festival by the NYDA; </li><li>Poor service delivery from parastatals; </li><li>The failure to create sufficient jobs; </li><li>A housing scandal involving 2 000 government officials, </li><li>The failure to crush South Africa's "internationally feared" criminals.</li></ol>***Corruption is present in most of the aboveWater crisis state's worst blunder 1. Water crisis Government's denial of the worsening water problems in South Africa in 2010 must rate as one of its more serious blunders. 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. 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. 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. 2. Youth 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. 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. 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. 3. Misappropriation Here are just some of this year's shocking blunders regarding state spending: <ul><li>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. </li><li>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. </li><li>Some R130 million was spent by government and several semi-government institutions on tickets for various matches in the Soccer World Cup Tournament. </li><li>In November the auditor-general revealed numerous government departments' "irregular" spending of approximately R2,3 billion (i.e. spending incurred outside stipulated guidelines). </li></ul>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. 4. Potholes keep government stumbling 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. 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. 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. Minister of transport, S'bu Ndebele, admitted in October that bad roads increase the risk of accidents. 5. Media tribunal 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. 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. 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! 6. SANDF Disturbing rumours were again doing the rounds this year that the defence force was nowhere near fighting trim. 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. 7. Semi-government institutions Many semi-government institutions are continuing their negative tendencies. 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. 8. Labour 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. The failure of the Essa project (Employment Services South Africa) seems inevitable. 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. 9. Housing scandal The housing corruption involving some 2 000 government officials is one of the most disgraceful public sins of 2010. 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. 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. 10. Crime and law enforcement The authorities are still failing to crush South Africa's internationally feared criminals, despite a growing police force. 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. 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. 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. Solidarity emphasised the gravity of the crisis, saying that extensive and permanent damage had already been done and that merely pulling up its socks is not good enough for 2011.

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 ...

3:03 PM

Tokyo's R72,000 a day on wining, dining and hotels

Tokyo Sexwale's ministry of human settlements spent an average of R72000 a day over 103 days on wining, dining and hotels. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3wrd0GLEsryCe_E_PgDX4GCGgTQE8e7Q_harZcnZAU9Pjw0mzXVJkFTZBJT7y_Y0l_iOa_0Res8gAEdRyMWMb2D7TnIxvZP1gyL14HUarofc7_QWJ_YuSG-GTQE-4ut0C3Kn1j4e7a8/s1600-h/human-settlements-tokyo-sexwale.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402251922916229234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3wrd0GLEsryCe_E_PgDX4GCGgTQE8e7Q_harZcnZAU9Pjw0mzXVJkFTZBJT7y_Y0l_iOa_0Res8gAEdRyMWMb2D7TnIxvZP1gyL14HUarofc7_QWJ_YuSG-GTQE-4ut0C3Kn1j4e7a8/s400/human-settlements-tokyo-sexwale.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" /></a>In the past seven months Sexwale, his deputy Zoliswa Kota-Fredericks, the director-general, Itumeleng Kotsoane, and his deputy spent more than R7.4-million on hotel accommodation, restaurants and travel. Between April 2008 and October 20 this year, R59-million was spent by the department. This emerged in a written parliamentary response to questions posed by the DA. In the past seven months, Kotsoane splurged close to R30000 in restaurants and more than R1-million on travel, while his deputy spent R800000 on travel. The department of public works spent R132-million in one financial year on travel, hotel accommodation and restaurants. Spokesman Lucky Mochalibane said the department had "remained within the budget under goods and services". Between April and October this year, more than R8-million was spent on hotel accommodation and restaurants, while R24-million was spent on travel.

Tokyo's R72,000 a day on wining, dining and hotels

Tokyo Sexwale's ministry of human settlements spent an average of R72000 a day over 103 days on wining, dining and hotels. In the past s...

12:31 PM

Thieving ANC stealing land AGAIN

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2X840gNu7ZH_MYfNZoo9RlQjPtAN0YA9ZfAbgdOwbJ3MntIaa8XQwkTgJyf0v4pxXNF26o6ozgEEYzw1NNqpQ35ws4kEMWbGKFCK6FE_k-2vFA7rKzwgpTffSKyq0MJwjkahpL6srE8/s1600-h/housing4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342376830201505410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2X840gNu7ZH_MYfNZoo9RlQjPtAN0YA9ZfAbgdOwbJ3MntIaa8XQwkTgJyf0v4pxXNF26o6ozgEEYzw1NNqpQ35ws4kEMWbGKFCK6FE_k-2vFA7rKzwgpTffSKyq0MJwjkahpL6srE8/s400/housing4.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px" /></a>Details of a second large transfer of prime residential land to national government by the Western Cape's former ANC-led administration were revealed by the province's new housing MEC, Bonginkosi Madikizela, on Monday. "In terms of the deal, 391.7 hectares of land owned by the provincial department of local government and housing are to be transferred to the Housing Development Agency [HDA]," he told a media briefing in Cape Town. Like the first deal, this too had taken place just before the 22 April elections. The agreement was signed on 20 April, and finalised on 4 May, the second-last day it was legally possible for the outgoing administration to sign off such documents. "This was done to frustrate us, as the new administration, so we don't deliver services," Madikizela told journalists. Ten days ago, details of the transfer of more than 1000 hectares of provincial housing land to national government by the previous administration were revealed by new Western Cape premier Helen Zille. "This land, worth about half-a-billion rand, and large enough to accommodate nearly 100 000 houses, was transferred free of charge... without informing the public or the City of Cape," she said at the time. The latest land deal involves six parcels of land — totalling 391.7 hectares — in both the Cape Town metropole and near Stellenbosch. Five of the land parcels are located east of the R300 and north of the N2 national road. A sixth comprises 11 erven in Grassy Park and Zeekoevlei. Madikizela on Monday said the latest land agreement was "highly unusual" because it involved a deed of sale. "Usually an LAA [land availability agreement] allows the department to retain ownership, while giving another agency permission to develop the land. This LAA... provides for a full transfer of the land to the HDA." A term of the agreement was the HDA had five years to decide whether to develop the land for housing. "In other words, the province has no say over whether this land can be developed to achieve our own delivery objectives." The agreement had also bypassed the province's legal services department. "The inference must be made that the outgoing administration was not confident about the legality of the deal." Madikizela said the province was seeking legal opinion on the two lots of land transfers. He was also set to meet HDA head Taffy Adler on Tuesday, to "ascertain what the HDA intends to do with the land". He said both of the land deals that had come to light were "cynical attempts too stymie the incoming administration".

Thieving ANC stealing land AGAIN

Details of a second large transfer of prime residential land to national government by the Western Cape's former ANC-led administration ...

10:47 AM

ANC's secret land transfer

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykAl6wmg3E6B3IjB-MQQVuWWFaulCJzoqjiatec4ZaV3UTQItSOps2_zlFeUWLeLJMdEGMtBPX8Gm7wsvW3xtaIA2ZaS4vxWxt0eqi6DYVeToy2sfoezuy82GY9FGosTHfn6asva9xgLg/s1600-h/cape-town-wine-lands-oude-molen-eco-village.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338688845574101138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykAl6wmg3E6B3IjB-MQQVuWWFaulCJzoqjiatec4ZaV3UTQItSOps2_zlFeUWLeLJMdEGMtBPX8Gm7wsvW3xtaIA2ZaS4vxWxt0eqi6DYVeToy2sfoezuy82GY9FGosTHfn6asva9xgLg/s400/cape-town-wine-lands-oude-molen-eco-village.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" /></a>1000 hectares of prime land transferred from Western Cape to national govt on April 21Oude Molen Eco Village planned for a mass housing project WESTERN Cape premier Helen Zille said it had come to the attention of the new provincial cabinet that the former ANC controlled administration under Premier Lynne Brown had transferred more than 1 000 hectares of land worth about half a billion rand to the national government - free of charge - a day before the April 22 election. “The land was transferred without informing the public or the City of Cape Town (as required by the original Cabinet resolution to transfer the land),” alleged Zille. Most of the land falls within the City of Cape Town Metro region. It includes land in Constantia, Oude Molen and Southfield. The land, worth about R500m, is large enough to accommodate nearly 100 000 houses and thought to be one of the province's biggest assets. DA finds ANC skeletonsExpensive Cuban cigars found in a former minister's office, people who were paid up to R100 000 a month to "do nothing", and unapproved expenses, these are some of the latest scandals threatening the ANC after the DA took over the provincial government in the Western Cape. Western Cape Premier Helen Zille caused a political furore on Friday when she revealed the ANC's secret land transfer. Meanwhile, Rapport learned that several new ministers in the Western Cape are investigating suspect transactions in their departments. "The list is becoming longer. Things are becoming worse for the ANC in the Western Cape," an informed source told Rapport.

ANC's secret land transfer

1000 hectares of prime land transferred from Western Cape to national govt on April 21 Oude Molen Eco Village planned for a mass housing pro...

4:20 AM

ANC record rules out my vote

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wMes_UdjCg8EduiHagQM4uGwcbsBQxGD647nFn_QA-zBy6BZQ5dNbeSIi_5R9T5oHVVX8q09TYLzAMdYRIBODHyudhhywcLClm04wLkCfFTQlcaFKDN1zhtubRWcKJkW6I0oCGXacI-s/s1600-h/anc.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321310004686296098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wMes_UdjCg8EduiHagQM4uGwcbsBQxGD647nFn_QA-zBy6BZQ5dNbeSIi_5R9T5oHVVX8q09TYLzAMdYRIBODHyudhhywcLClm04wLkCfFTQlcaFKDN1zhtubRWcKJkW6I0oCGXacI-s/s400/anc.png" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 178px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px" /></a> "But select capable men from all the people - men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and appoint them as officials..." Exodus 18:21 by David Kettles - a resident of East London I AM dismayed that there seem to be many who still intend to cast a vote in favour of the ANC. Consider the ANC's achievements over the last 15 years in those aspects of life that affect each of us daily. Education: teachers trying to teach have to cope with the legendary incompetence of local officials. Schools that are still functional only remain so because they employ a large proportion of their staff with monies paid by parents. Employers or university lecturers will tell you that the graduates of our school system are in many cases only semi-literate, whilst international surveys of mathematics literacy tell the unvarnished truth. Health care: A generation ago the sickest of the sick in our country, black or white, would head towards State institutions for outstanding care. Now the staff has gone – perhaps unwilling to participate in the systematic destruction of centres of excellence. But primary healthcare suffers, too. Incompetence and maladministration ensure that clinics run out of essential medicines: even basic primary care is not afforded to the majority of our population. Not content with having nearly destroyed State health facilities, the ruling party is now turning its attention to the private sector. Infrastructure: Our roads are falling apart. The money is there, but no one can spend it. It will take billions and many years to recover from 15 years of neglect. Rolling blackouts threaten development and investment, not because of a loose bolt at Koeberg, but because of a nut in charge, lack of foresight and planning, and mismanagement. Many municipalities can no longer provide clean and safe drinking water. Civil service: 15 years of affirmative action, jobs for pals, and the employment of legions of incompetents have left us where we are now. Fraud is endemic. Drivers licences are fraudulent while the road carnage is terrifying. Every long trip is laced with trepidation. As for passports, ask UK officials why we now need visas. ID books are yours for the asking, unless you happen to be a desperate, honest SA citizen. Then you’ll wait months. Housing: Our politicians have not yet found a way to spend the money that gets thrown at them to build houses, and will again return vast quantities to Treasury unspent. They cannot deliver on this recurrent election promise. The housing waiting lists remain endless and the houses that are built are frequently so bad that real contractors must be brought in to make them habitable. Emigration: the ANC has been unable to convince many skilled people to stay in South Africa and contribute. Reasons to flee usually include fear for physical safety, discontent regarding the application of affirmative action , the quality and availability of education and quiet desperation as good people observe the rise of incompetence. Who would not be frightened when people of the ilk of Jacob Zuma and Julius Malema are considered leaders of stature and revered? Crime: Under the ANC, crime has been glamorised. The police chief has embarrassed us internationally, and awaits trial at home. Politicians are criminals, too, but that doesn’t stop the ANC redeploying them. Commitment to fighting crime is a joke. If the prosecuting authorities are too effective they are fired. Non-governmental criminals are having a field day, too. Murder, robbery and rape make daily headlines, and make for very scared citizens. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321205225652738194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnOPhlwG4KbZ4cHGYkwn1WVDuCODR_Lklns6TAYTNcJY6Vj9HMQqg6bT-i5oiiTJuutZIecjNNysReuhz3vIQXqQGqxipqViJpuirx18oCOuvIHRb6CdlmuL5YrDaR6T1sUhDAVDGcVj7/s400/zuma-no.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" />Morals, morale, and reputation are apparently not concepts understood in the ANC. We wish, as President, to have a man who has five or so wives at last count, but finds that number insufficient to cater for his needs, and so will resort to the “use” of youngsters half his age. This is not sufficiently frowned upon as to disqualify a man from high office. He wants, but desperately does not want, his day in court. And the ANC has the temerity to offer this man as a candidate for President. This is a slap in the face of every right thinking South African. And an international embarrassment. If you were a property owner, (and not trying to feather your own nest), would you want to rent your property to one of our politicians? I doubt our country has the resources and resolve to survive another five years of ANC rule. Fortunately, we do have a vote. Things must change. Right Now. We can do it!

ANC record rules out my vote

"But select capable men from all the people - men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and appoint them as officials...

6:52 AM

South Africa P.I.G.