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Situation in South Africa

Started by hermes2015, July 15, 2021, 04:41:56 PM

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hermes2015

I guess there may be some expectations here that I should at least comment on the situation in South Africa. I think it best to state my own impressions, and those of family and acquaintances, as dispassionately as possible.

Ordinary people just want to get on with their lives and not see businesses they have built up destroyed for no valid reason. Right now I am very angry, so I don't want to say anything without thinking rationally. It started off ostensibly as protests by supporters of the former president, who has been convicted of corruption and other misdeeds, but a large criminal element has used this as an excuse to loot and steal from businesses.

It seems that there have been many arrests so far, with a large number of confessions that rioters have been paid to stir up trouble.

Sorry if my analysis sounds naïve, but I think it is obvious to everyone that I am not a very political person. If anyone has any questions, I will do my best to give an unbiased impression.
"Eventually everything connects - people, ideas, objects. The quality of the connections is the key to quality per se."
― Charles Eames

No one

Humans, no matter where you put them, they'll fuck it up, royally!

Contrary to popular belief, stupidity is not exclusive to America.

Icarus

Hermes; thank you for helping us try to understand the social unrest in SA.   We have some unrest here too.  I believe not as severe as in SA.

We have a particular demographic that has long been under served and under represented.  Our situation is a serious matter.  I get the impression that your situation is even more serious.  How does the unrest affect your safety and comfort?


hermes2015

Quote from: Icarus on July 15, 2021, 11:30:52 PM
Hermes; thank you for helping us try to understand the social unrest in SA.   We have some unrest here too.  I believe not as severe as in SA.

We have a particular demographic that has long been under served and under represented.  Our situation is a serious matter.  I get the impression that your situation is even more serious.  How does the unrest affect your safety and comfort?

Something outsiders probably don't understand, unless they have visited the country, is how great the contrasts are between the poor areas and the affluent, "white" areas. Life in these areas is very much like Australia, New Zealand, and more desirable parts the USA. So, as far as safety and comfort are concerned, one usually does not venture into areas that are known to be crime hotspots. I think Tank, who has been here, will confirm what I am saying.

We are hoping that things will return to normal soon, because we have enough daily problems already with the effects of the covid pandemic. I have have had both of my Pfizer shots.
"Eventually everything connects - people, ideas, objects. The quality of the connections is the key to quality per se."
― Charles Eames

Tom62

I just hope that SA won't go down the same route as Zimbabwe. A combination of high levels of corruption, despotism, tribalism and socialism are a recipe of disaster.
The universe never did make sense; I suspect it was built on government contract.
Robert A. Heinlein

hermes2015

Quote from: Tom62 on July 16, 2021, 06:09:29 AM
I just hope that SA won't go down the same route as Zimbabwe. A combination of high levels of corruption, despotism, tribalism and socialism are a recipe of disaster.

Tribalism is one of the biggest problems in all of Africa. It is the case even in South Africa, which is the most advanced of the sub-Saharan countries.
"Eventually everything connects - people, ideas, objects. The quality of the connections is the key to quality per se."
― Charles Eames

Icarus

Here in the US we have a different kind of tribalism but it is in full bloom. 

Adding to your SA difficulties, there is the Kalahari. Reports are that the extreme heat is progressing faster there than anywhere else on earth. Add a crippling drought to that and the the Meerkats, Gemsboks and those other exotic  animals are in big trouble.




Icarus

It seems that There is strife all over the globe.  Current news is that there are massive demonstrations in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Croatia.  The demonstrators are aroused because of the government mandates that hope to mitigate the Covid increase in those countries.

We have a huge number of protesters, here in the US of course.  So far there has been little or no need to call out the national guard.  Our situation is serious enough to warrant some attention but the problems with protestors in Europe  are getting the most news coverage.

Too many of our protestors are resting their wrath on religious, imagined, prohibitions for introducing such stuff as life saving vaccines into our bodies.  The other determined objectors are far right wing nutters who claim that we are being taken over by socialists, therefore they have a duty to disobey common sense.