Category: politics

Julius: Then and Now

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Julius Malema, writing about a proposed City Press boycott in 2012:

Our forefathers thrived for many years under difficult moments because they cherished free press and freedom of expression.
Banning newspapers simply because we disagree with them and boycotting them on the basis of believing that our conception of truth is absolute really poses a real threat to our democracy.
Even when we expressed utmost anger against a BBC Journalist in a Press Conference incident which we later apologized for, we never took a decision to ban the BBC or the Journalist from our Press Conferences, because we need to protect everyone space to disagree.

Julius Malema, speaking about a proposed New Age/ANN7 boycott today:

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Does Julius Malema pose a real threat to our democracy?
Julius Malema seems to think so.

Water woes

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After the implementation of tougher water restrictions at the beginning of the year, with no significant rain having fallen in the interim, and with the local dam levels still dropping (down to 46.6% this week), it seems that the City of Cape Town is about to get tough with people wasting water.

Of course they are.

Somewhat predictably, there is (sigh) “outrage” over the whole situation though, with residents angry firstly that reported leaks and burst pipes are not being attended to, and secondly that anyone flouting the restrictions seems to do so with complete impunity.

Resident Rob McIver says mayoral committee member for utility services Ernest Sonnenberg should ensure his own department is in order before threatening citizens with fines for water wastage.

And Rob McIver isn’t wrong.

Sonnenberg replies that the city are getting there – it’s just that they’ve got a lot to do:

“The City services a pipe network of close to 11 000km (the equivalent distance from here to Australia), to which 650 000 households are connected, so a certain degree of resource optimisation is required.”

Quite why we are exporting water to Perth is a bit beyond me.
I thought it was just racists we sent over there.
Odd.

Anyway, just because the city is allegedly slow to repair leaking pipes doesn’t mean that it’s ok for people to ignore the water restrictions currently in force. Two wrongs and all that. But the idea the city is going to fine people who break the rules is laughable. Everybody is at it, with no concern whatsoever over any sort of prosecution. From the kids’ school, through the wife’s work, to our office park, to Wynberg “Maximum Evaporation” Boys High School, who spend all day, every day watering – especially if it’s hot. The entire population – not least the City itself – would be on trial almost immediately.

So, if Ernest really was… earnest… about getting legal with the naughty people, why hasn’t he started already? He’s had five weeks of opportunity, 5 weeks to make a stand and show that he’s serious about saving water. But nada.

It hasn’t happened yet, and I for one am not holding my breath.

Caring Government

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There’s been a groundswell of movements of late that suggest that those in charge of our nations – whichever nations they may be in this global society – don’t care about the common man (or woman) (or gender-fluid individual) on the street. They may be right, but that’s not what this post is about. This post is about how things weren’t always this way. There is evidence that, less than 40 years ago, the UK government still cared for its subjects.

If the United Kingdom is stuck by a natural disaster, devastating pandemic, bioterrorist attack or other catastrophe… Pre-Emergency Services have been set up to supply citizens with “essential survival items” including ping pong balls, rubber bands, furniture polish, drinks coasters and crocheted toilet-roll covers that looked like Georgian ladies.

All the important bases covered, I’m sure you will agree. And as the Minister for Internal Affairs assured us:

Should an unexpected catastrophe occur, such as the one which may or may not take place later this year on October 14th, we guarantee that working families and those most in need, such as table tennis players, will be the first to receive the emergency supplies listed in this leaflet.

Indeed, the selfless Prime Minister even offered to forgo his own rubber band and drinks coaster rations saying:

“The knowledge that the people of the United Kingdom are safe is all the comfort I need and I will gladly make do with less vital resources”

These “less vital resources” were later revealed to be water purification tablets, dried food goods and medical supplies.

Fortunately for all concerned, the events of October 14th failed to materialise, and there was no need for the Pre-Emergency Services’ supplies to be handed out.

But one does have to wonder if the UK (or any other) Government of today would be as understanding and generous when considering the needs of its people.

This history, of course, courtesy of Scarfolk.

Coincidence?

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DA leader Mmusi Maimane makes “a keynote speech” on Race and Identity in his party and in South Africa, and suddenly Twitter is “mysteriously” unavailable?

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Could it be that the ANC have blocked access so that no-one was able to hear or engage with this landmark address?

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Probably not, to be honest.

UPDATE: Still, the fact that this was a worldwide outage hasn’t stopped some people (namely Mmusi’s wife) from thinking the worst:

Do you really think they’re that bothered? Really?
Eish. Bit of a stretch.