Tributum Newsletter #38

Hello

It’s the end of “public holiday month” and maybe that’s why it feels like just yesterday that the previous newsletter went out.  Last month I did my best to keep things light but not even completing Paddy Upton’s book has been able to do much for April.

While the Eastern Cape continues to run dry there were devastating floods in KZN in particular. We sympathise with all those who have lost and suffered during these times and wish them all the best for the rebuilding period.  This just again shows that nature is random and, as discussed before, does not believe in the notion of equal opportunity, not to mention equal outcome.

Like the April outcomes for two acquaintances, where nature’s random cards were not dealt in their favour, and they lost the game of life. The one battled the Big C for about 2 years while the other was doing the dishes when he collapsed in sudden pain about two months ago… Life – totally random and no guaranteed outcome but one. The next minute truly is promised to no-one.

Eskom also did its best to keep the mood as dark as the neighbourhoods that still have working streetlights. And then the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (“SCOPA”) did not take kindly when Eskom director Mavuso’s suggested that loadshedding is the result of the ANC.  Even though he apologised after a public outcry, the indignation shown by someone who should at least try and be impartial just again shows that the Governing party does not take kindly to criticism.

Many people are concerned about Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter. They are worried about free speech, or more specifically speech from the right side of the political spectrum. While I do not condone the filth that is spread by some people or the internet at large, surely free speech means that both people on the left and people on the right can post their views. And if it is hate speech, then take the individual or group to task. Or just don’t use Twitter or post anything on the internet.

Speaking about free speech, there were some speeches on Freedom Day. About freedom and what it means or should mean. However, what is should not mean is being able to move around freely and continue to enjoy the spoils of corruption when you have been implicated, incriminated, exposed and publicly shamed. The public knows who they are, they know who they are and even Shamila Batohi knows who they are. Why is the NPA not prosecuting? I agree that our law-abiding citizens should have Freedom, but not the bad guys. They should not see another day of freedom, not to mention another Freedom Day, before they are locked away.

Here’s hoping. But don’t hold your breath. Until next time, keep breathing!