It is
Provisional Tax time and the unwary looking through the SARS website for what
to do can stumble upon a section headed “Tax Can Be Fun”. Allegedly a
collection of droll and amusing incidents from the job of dunning citizens for
money it still seems weird that somewhere there is an official who thought such
a section would be appreciated.
Maybe the
most significant part of the recent Eskom pay deal is that it was concluded
without any mention of the criminal charges threatened against those employees
suspected of sabotage, nor of staffing levels. Until the Eskom work force is
savagely trimmed and trustworthy this country is going to battle with electricity
that is way too expensive.
So yet again
the way PE elects its Mayor has provided material for a book to join the very
many being published which try to track what on earth is happening in South
Africa. Athol Trollip, the erstwhile mayor of Port Elizabeth (now labouring
under the unwieldy name of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro) seems to have lost his job
while taking a rather longer than normal adjournment. His office chair was
quickly filled by one of the utterly corrupt and untrustworthy thugs who
already feature in a book describing their shenanigans in 2016. Now that
Trollip has refilled the city coffers it was obviously time for another looting
spell.
So far
everyone who has appeared in front of the Commission of Enquiry into State
Capture has reported that they dismissed the Gupta offers of wealth and power
in exchange for corruption and larceny, with contempt. Well done and thanks to
them but far too many others obviously didn’t and to cut to the chase it’s the
Guptas and Zuma who we really need to hear from. But that’s never going to happen.
Officialdom
and corporates in SA have a near obsession with the requirement that customers
need to prove where they live. All manner of dubious tactics are employed by
people in need of a “proof of residence” and its close cousin, a certified copy
of the same. If there is any sense or benefit in this timewasting exercise
which was probably born out of FICA, that allegedly internationally applicable
banking regulation, it has yet to be seen. The crooks seem able to move and
launder money without hindrance and there is no visible reduction in crime just
because our service agencies have vaults full of paper. However, there is one place
where having one’s home address recorded makes sense and that is the Voters Roll
and indeed the law insists upon it. However, yet again the government agency
which supervises elections is back in court asking for this requirement to be
suspended. Clearly powerful forces gain some benefit from a non-compliant
voter’s roll at election time. Curious and suspicious.
What was
happening in Britain this week that they felt it would be a good idea to send
their Prime Minister to Africa for a few days? Theresa May nipped in and out of
Cape Town with a thoughtful gift that was quickly offset by at least two less wise
actions. The gift was the ship’s bell rescued from the wreck of the SS Mendi was
sunk in the English Channel on 21st February 1917 resulting in the
loss of 616 South Africans on their way to help in the First World War. Our
nation appreciates that present very much. Unfortunately, Mrs May then said and
did some foolish things. Firstly, she plunged into the Expropriation without
Compensation morass and said she would support the ANC’s policy of land reform provided
it was legal and democratic. And secondly, she attempted a few dance moves in
the home of the world’s most rhythmic nation. Had Mrs May’s advisors not told
her that here we dance even when we are steaming mad?
The
Supersport list of televised events now has Angolan soccer. This is nearly as
odd as Mercedes complaining that Ferrari are too fast or trying to follow the
Proteas. My but that Bledisloe Cup is huge. It must take up several airline
seats all its own. Just as well it hasn’t left New Zealand in years.
James Greener
Friday 31st August 2018
