Third E-Mail: 13 Feb 2008

This is the 3^rd e-mail that I've received on the state of South Africa, as with the other e-mails I've reproduced this as it was received, unfortunately this one needed some “saving” from the formatting monster so there was a lot of copy-and-paste, reader beware! It was apparently authored by a Mr Greg Castle, unfortunately there was no address history in the mail which could be used to confirm this but we'll assume that there is indeed a Mr Greg Castle somewhere in South Africa.

If you do go on to read this please remember Greg is being motivational and very passionate. I can only guess he was a little emotional at times. He can also be offensive, again you've been warned.

Thank you for your effort Mr Castle.

...

Here's something to give some context. Of course, all those incompetents should still be fired!!!!!!!!!!

This is a response to an article I received recently, promoting doom and gloom in SA. This amongst the enormous amount of negativity that
abounds due to concerns surrounding Jacob Zuma's support, the electricity crisis, the Jackie Selebi affair and the ongoing crime statistics in the country.

I can't remember how many conversations I've had of late with folk again talking of emigrating or stocking up on bully-beef for the dark years that lie ahead. Brings back some memories pre-1994. Therefore I felt the need to put a few thoughts down in order to help others perhaps see a little flicker of light amongst the gloom..

Varying Shades of Green

A little food for thought perhaps from one married to an Aussie, living in South Africa. As much as I love Australia, and Australian's, perhaps a little perspective could help some folk see that it's not that the grass is greener, just a different shade on the other side. I don't consider myself an ostrich with my head in the sand of patriotism; rather a reasonably well travelled individual who accepts that there's a lot to be rectified in South Africa, but a hell of a lot more that's bloody damn good too.

Many folk, who believe that the grass is greener on the other side,
either haven't spent much time on the other side, or have possibly been there on holiday during idyllic circumstances. As much as there are clearly problems in South Africa, these are largely centred around education and employment, both clearly legacies of Apartheid, as much as we may not like to admit it. 13 years of democracy is not nearly enough time to eradicate the negative impact that these two areas were subjected to for decades (some would argue centuries). Nevertheless, I am not one to accept excuses easily either, and there is some truth in the fact that Apartheid and the race card is used too quickly at times to cover up lack of progress on the part of some government officials and others with their backs against the wall. Now consider these:

• Unlike the Apartheid years, our transparent government and constitution has allowed for corruption within top business and the highest government ranks to be identified and prosecuted. I understand from my learned advocate friends that there's a lot more to come. This is fairly unique even in the so called Western World. (Take George W Bush's 'incentive' to take out oil producing competitors in the Middle East). No-one has been fired since it was discovered that CIA evidence supporting the war against Iraq was found to be bogus). What has happened to those large arms organisations linked to bribery in Germany and France? Corruption is always a two way street. Interesting to note that many of those embroiled in corrupt activities in our own country just so happen to be white South African business people, yet people like to harp on about black politicians.
  

• From 2006 to this day, Australia's two major states, Queensland and New South Wales, have been limited to radical water restrictions due to insufficient forward planning on the part of their government. The restrictions have been placed at 140litres/person/day, and half an hour of garden watering/week. Restrictions are likely to only be lifted in 2012. (see HYPERLINK "http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/restrictions-off-in-five-years-says-usage-report/2007/05/27/1180205077457.html"http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/restrictions-off-in-five-years-says-usage-report/2007/05/27/1180205077457.html for more info). Personally, I'd rather have to light a candle at the dinner table, than have to have dinner with half a dozen of my closest smelly water conserving friends.

• People living in those states have now been forced to install large external water tanks in order to collect the water from their gutters for domestic purposes.

• The price of electricity and water in Aus is considerably more expensive than in South Africa, in fact ours is still amongst the cheapest in the world (hence the reason why so many foreign countries want to place their electricity sapping smelters in SA. If South African's were prepared to pay 3 * 5 times more for these services, imagine how much electricity Eskom could generate? Imagine the moans and groans then!

• Interesting to note how the doomsayers of Koeberg have all gone quiet now, despite rallying up against capacity expansion plans there some years ago. Perhaps they're not quiet, just moaning about something else now.

• Our fuel is still amongst the cheapest in the Western World at R7.50/l. Now over *1 in UK (R15.14/l), Italy (where I've just been, €1.59/litre (R17.96/litre), Australia at A$1.49/l (R10.36/l) to mention a few.

• Though an issue in SA too, the drug problem in Australia appears to be far more significant, particularly in Sydney. I personally found a used syringe with needle attached on Bondi Beach one evening. One just has to walk down some of the suburbs within Sydney to see well dressed individuals lying in doorways and on the street with evidence of drug abuse around them. I've known two separate Australian families who have said that they'd prefer their teenagers to be in South Africa during this phase of their lives due to this problem.
  

• Australia has a declining population. And like many European countries, it is beginning to place major strain on the economy from a health and welfare point of view, not to mention reduced taxes for maintenance and development. In the next decade, the aging baby boomers will diminish, taking with them a large portion of the Australian tax base. Parts of Europe are in an advanced state of decay as a result of this problem. I have recently personally experienced this.

• There is reported widespread abuse amongst many young folk incentivised in Australia to have more children due to the declining population, preferring to use their A$5000/child to purchase drugs instead.

• The so called highways between Australia's largest of cities, are nothing more than single laned, strewn with potholes. A trip between the economic hub of Sydney and the capital city Canberra is a good example. Even Germany's autobahn, once rated amongst the finest in the world, are aging badly and speed restrictions have been imposed along many legs due to congestion and road maintenance issues.

• Most white Australian's have neither met nor understand the historic plight of the aboriginals in their own country, preferring instead to focus on hard working expats from Asia and the Middle East, who are taking jobs away from them in large numbers. The racist hysteria and simmering resentment eventually manifested itself in Pauline Hanson (with a fairly sizable and growing following in Australia). This is just the beginning I suspect.

• Recent race riots in Sydney indicate quite clearly that all is not well in ol' Aus when it comes to racism and bigotry, up until now it's just been below the radar screen.  We on the other hand have had to face our demons for some time now, and have come an incredibly long way in the process.

• Australia's major tourist areas

• The Gold Coast, and Barrier Reef, are primarily owned by the Japanese causing much resentment amongst the locals. Most of the golf courses in Queensland too are owned by Japanese, making it prohibitively expensive to play as an Australian.

• Similarly to the Selebi issue, Knighted Sir Terry Lewis(Police Commissioner of Queensland from 1978 * 1987, was sentenced to 14 years for corruption. He had accepted HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribe"bribes totaling $700,000 to protect HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothel"brothels, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookmaker"bookmakers, illegal HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino"casinos, forging the signature of the state premier, amongst other activities). He was also a close associate and bagman to the corrupt former Australian Police Commissioner, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bischof"Francis Bischof.
  

• Assistant Commissioner HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Graeme_Parker&action=edit" Graeme Parker too confessed to corruption and implicated Lewis in HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987" 1987.

• The White Australia Policy served until only the mid 1975, and ensured that all 'half-cast' (coloured) kids were confiscated from their parents and sent to orphanages and foster homes for 'their own wellbeing'. All this whilst imposing sanctions against South Africa.

• It has been argued that sanctions were only imposed by those countries that competed head on with South Africa on the minerals and agricultural front (Australia and Canada being top of those yet both
  with horrendous racial histories of their own).

• Queensland's premier Bjelke-Peterson (1968 * 1987) resided over a government that has since been revealed to be institutionally corrupt.

• It has been reported that more black aboriginals died in detention in 1984 in Australian jails compared to black South African's killed by apartheid during the same year, (at the peak of apartheid!). There were only 170 000 aboriginals compared to 25 million black South African's at the time. You do the maths.

• The most negative South African's I have come across have been expat South African's living in Australia (most having left in the 1970's and 1980's). Many clearly out of touch, and only clinging to negative sentiment in order to help justify their decision to emigrate. Many use BEE as the excuse. Interesting how many of these folk have been prepared to lower their living expectations in Australia, yet were not prepared to do so in SA.
  

• The competition for jobs in Australia is extremely high, with limited entrepreneurial opportunities in comparison to SA. Many people don't realise what sacrifices one would need to make in order to maintain the same standard of living in e.g. Sydney.

• Ex South African's head up the highest proportion of
  Australian corporates compared any other group of foreign nationals.
  

• Unlike the US, European and Australian mortgage bond crisis', it was not allowed to get out control in SA thanks to wise folk at the Reserve Bank and our retail banks decisive decision making.
  

• Gold and platinum are at an all time high, thanks in part to the electricity crisis.
  

• The US reliance on oil to feed their power systems throughout the country will shortly become unstuck as this non renewable resource comes to an end. Imagine that electricity crisis!
  

• John Howard, often referred to as George W Bush's bag carrier, fully supported the ridiculous war in Iraq at face value, whilst SA politicians were prepared to see the other side to the story and make a stand, whilst the US was threatening "you're with or against us".
  

• South African politicians (and ex-politicians) have been called in to mediate in numerous international disputes, some having lasted for decades, due to our reputation for understanding both sides of the story before coming to conclusions, e.g. Ireland, Iraq, Iran, Israel, US-Cuba, Ivory Coast, and many other African countries. Must say something about our reputation for level headedness and professionalism, despite the soothsayers.

• Last weekend it was 35ºC in Cape Town, and -35ºC in Toronto. Which would you prefer?

• The other day we drove around the magnificent Cape Peninsula
  for lunch and spotted 4 whales lurching in the waves.

• Our wine in SA is incredibly cheap compared to equivalent quality wines of France, Australia, America, Italy, even Chile. That alone in my view is a damn good reason to live in SA and not to moan too loudly!
  

• A fine dinner out with my wife at a good restaurant in Sydney set me back R1450 (with one starter, two mains and one desert, a bottle of wine and two coffees between us). The same quality here would cost us no more than R450.
  

• My two young sons have the opportunity to grow up in an incredibly interesting, challenging and amazingly culturally diverse society. They have an opportunity to interact with fascinating differences each day of their lives, and to grow up to become extremely well rounded, understanding, culturally and religiously accepting individuals, that can only add enormous value to our complicated, bigoted world. I think that they will be well placed to help bring societies and people of different positions together, through there own experiences.
  

• We have the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful parts of the world, untouched by human destruction and so called 'progress' due to excellent environmental management, within and just beyond our borders. Something that we shouldn't take for granted.
  

• And I could go on

I don't think that things are perfect by any means, nor are they going to be that easy for some time in SA, but that goes for the rest of the world as well. Nevertheless it doesn't help to harp on only the negativities instead of making things work. The situation we find ourselves in has a lot to
do with each of us, rather than just the Government. Although they must be clearly held accountable, we all need to do our part and find solutions rather than simply criticise. I am often embarrassed and shocked when some of the self righteous criticism comes from my own friends and associates.

Perhaps we all need a gentle reminder about the varying shades of green grass from time to time. And as for my friends, I quite like the fact that we agree to disagree from time to time. Makes dinner party conversations somewhat animated and far more interesting than I've experienced abroad.

So, those are a few reasons, why I don't think that this is such a bad place. Imagine when (not if!) we get the crime story sorted out! I don't think there'd be a place in the world as brilliant as this.
Greg Castle

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