It is
probably impossible for outsiders to understand all of the forces at work in the
tragic events unfolding at some of the platinum mines. But it is possible to see
that there is a total lack of useful and sensible responses from the national
leaders who almost seem to be content merely to watch as this industry tears
itself and the case for SA as an investment destination to shreds. Folk ought to
be outraged by scenes of policemen shooting people dead over what we are told
are merely wage disputes
However,
investors seemingly have not been repelled by this appalling development and the
JSE has gained almost 5% in the last few weeks with the All Share index setting
new highs and approaching 36 000. Of course the heavy lifting here has been done
mainly by the industrial sector counters with the financials snapping at their
heels. All the poor old resources sector can do is dream about the longer term
value they are starting to offer.
That
inept and clueless officialdom is unable or unwilling to make tough choices is
not just a local phenomenon. As the holiday season in Europe draws to a close it
turns out that pretty much no one has done anything they said they would do more
closely to match their government’s incomes to expenditure. In particular they
have failed to convince those of their citizens who have shown heroic and
historic aversion to tax payments that it is not just Angela Merkel who is
responsible for alleviating the plight of their compatriots who are finding it
hard to break their addiction to living on government paycheques and handouts.
When the relatively few rich and prudent savers of the Euro zone get back to
their desks they will find their IN boxes overflowing with pleas for more money.
That will quickly erase the holiday mood.
It is a
great pity that the new police chief chose such a grisly topic to demonstrate
her breathtaking administrative skills. Without even pausing to consult notes
she announced that in the first 60 days of her taking office, some 6 policeman
had been killed on duty and “statistically that means that one is killed every
10 days.” Shocking.
Now this
is a sorry mess. The team (Lions) that won the Currie Cap last year and which
has also frequently trounced the sole S A side (Sharks) in this year’s Super 15
final (and which will of course do so again tomorrow) has been booted from the
Super 15 to be replaced by an outfit whose sole claim to selection seems to be a
management team who speak fluent politics. The display of deceit, stupidity and
calumny by the rugby chiefs who fibbed about just about everything leaves me
with a pretty clean Lions supporters cap and a hard question about my future as
a fan.
Despite
their unimaginative and misleading name, the Southern Kings do indeed hail from
the land of my roots known for perfect beaches, prickly pears and premier places
of education. My heart is clear on what I have to do, but supporting a team who
will likely spend most of next season thoroughly exploring the bottom of the
Super 15 log is getting boring. Maybe, just maybe, I will one day need to
acknowledge that I now live east of the Ermelo meridian.
The most
important thing about the ‘bokke’s test against Argentina
tomorrow (as well) is that the players avoid injury as the real tests against
the old enemies follow closely thereafter. In the meantime let’s hope that the
Proteas at Lords complete the job they went to England to do.
Unfortunately like the Olympic gold medals did, a number one world ranking in
Test Cricket will lure the talking suits out in front of the cameras to claim
their utterly undeserved share of the glory and any cocktail snacks that are on
offer.
James Greener
17th August 2012
