Have you noticed the rise in the number of helicopters clattering through the skies above Joburg these days? I am sure it is related to the growth in the size and immobility of the traffic jams that are forming around the holes in the road that we are assured will one day contain the Gautrain underground system. Those of us unable to find shareholders or taxpayers to chip in for a chopper are obliged to sit and steam in the stationary streets. Some public transport providers have adopted a No Rules format to help them overcome the crush but their dangerous and inconsiderate driving is intolerable and accidents are frequent. Sadly, it was not this violence that Transport Minister Radebe was referring to when he threatened “the full might of the law... should violence erupt (in the taxi industry)”. Rather, he is worried about the reaction of the taxi drivers who are deeply unhappy with the government plan to change the standard brand-name minibuses (admittedly not all roadworthy and usually overloaded – but we already have laws for those problems) for a lumbering bus of new design, unknown make and alarming reputation. The foolish campaign to convert to these new vehicles lurks behind the name of “The Taxi Recapitalisation Project”. Many of us are suspicious about where this capital is going to. I doubt that the poor scared commuters will see any significant benefits.
Safety and Security Minister Nqakula opined that the spate of deadly cash-in-transit heists was really the fault of the security companies who are providing vans that are insufficiently armoured and guards who are under gunned. I therefore expect even more deadly shootouts between the security guards and the robbers as each side will now presumably obediently be upgrading their hardware. Another politician has called upon the “best brains to combat crime.” No further comment needed.
Up the road in Midrand, little is happening at the Pan African Parliament. The 200 computers which we, the hosts, provided the delegates, when they met last year, failed to make it through the recess. MPs are “unable to connect to the internet” and so progress in “developing sustainable and democratic rule across the continent” has ground to a halt. More active, is the market in pre-owned PCs in the Halfway House area. Africa’s finance ministers, gathered in Yaounde, are making progress, however. Although the main topic is the usual plea for more debt relief.
Mind you, debt relief is very quickly becoming a major topic in the USA. About the only way to provide this would be to drop interest rates and the prospect of this happening may be the reason why the dollar has been getting a hiding. It has lost more than 2% against the major currencies and almost 3% versus gold this week. Even though I shall be away in the game reserve for a while I shall be watching this development closely. I am not impressed that the All Share index climbed back close to its all time high today. That just gives it further to fall.
May I thank those of you who asked for my CV so they could include it in their nomination of me to join “The Gauteng Propeller Board”. Despite on occasion having been accused of being a propeller head, I must decline your invitation. My escape route can be found in clause 2di which insists that candidates possess knowledge and experience in … “finance or economy”. Someone who doesn’t know if the shares will go up or down fails that test immediately.
Why did anyone think that it was a good idea for the ‘bokke to play at Twickenham on two successive Saturdays? There must be some huge incentive cheques flying about.
James Greener
24th November 2006
