Tributum Newsletter #51
Hello
Just when hope appeared to have been lost with another new mayor in Port Elizabeth, South African Muso Motha lit up Britain’s Got Talent last weekend showing that hope springs eternal and somehow we need to make the best of our circumstances.
As winter sets in SA the reality of the cooling economy is also setting in. In addition to load shedding, policy blunders such as Russia and continuation with the National Health Insurance and Karpowerships will place even greater strain on the small SA tax base. This while creating more opportunity for those in power to showcase ineptitude and corruption. Even Fakile Mbalula admitted in a BBC interview that serious action is needed to prevent SA from becoming a failed state. But the ruling party is going about these serious actions in a very strange manner.
It appears that South African politics has a new motto – If it ain’t broke, let’s break it! It seems that in SA politics a vote of no confidence is taken exactly for the opposite. When that person shows all the signs that they are doing a good job, that a positive difference is made, for everyone. The only confidence the persons supporting such a vote can have is that the person they vote against have not and will not show the uselessness and corrupt attitude so widely on display elsewhere in the country.
The fact that 23 people died in Hammanskraal since 15 May of a preventable disease after the Health Department’s claims as late as March this year that Gauteng’s tap water is safe to drink is another stark reminder that failure is very possible, very quickly. And all the lip service and votes of no confidence will not put Humpty Dumpty together. Say what about failing again Mr Mbalula?
Enter Musa Motha (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qonkpkK018). He lost his left leg as a youngster after being diagnosed with cancer. Before that he was a gifted soccer player with professional aspirations. But when life throws you lemons…He made serious lemonade over the past weekend after receiving a golden buzzer on Britain’s Got Talent. In his words “In everything I do, I do my best, no compromise.” So I ask a question I asked before – what is your excuse? What is mine? What lemonade are we making?
It’s going to be a while until Spring and winters is going to get worse. Get out those winter warmers. For you and your finances. Also spare some for those less fortunate than you – share the lemonade, not the lemons. Until next month, keep breathing.