ROYAL JOUST?

Through half-closed eyes and by exercising a modicum of wishfulness, it is possible, to detect a periodicity in the fortunes of the rand. It was weak in 2001-2002; 2008-2009; 2016 and then in 2020. While not yet as developed or extensive as the earlier recoveries, our poor runt has currently gained at least 20% against some currencies since the days when we were first learning to say the words virus, covid and lockdown. Soon we might again be able to afford overseas travel, provided of course, that the bureaucrats choose to reopen borders. This, however, seems unlikely as the disease detectives are claiming to have identified yet another wave of a Covid-19 variant that is already breaking over the planet. Why this should be possible now that many nations are attaining amazing levels of protection through vaccination has not yet been adequately answered beyond complicated suggestions that the jabs are not actually “vaccines” in the traditional use of the term. Examples of unfortunate individuals catching and suffering from multiple bouts of Covid suggest that there are many “unconventional” aspects to this disease. What a scary mess. Meanwhile, an admittedly superficial scan of a limited sample of this nation made while on a swift but long road trip reveals a visible portion of the population that has reclaimed their lives from the myriad mysterious prohibitions that grew out of the lethal lockdown program. Face masks and sanitizer are sighted but largely unused. Hurriedly backing out of a shop to return to the car for a mask is greeted with a jovial laugh and a wave to enter anyway. A single sample of a remote country hotel bar and dining room confirmed that a zest for enjoyment has returned to the platteland. The spoilers were the power cuts. Much of the week’s attention was directed to the “planting” of the recently deceased Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini. It seems that the selection of his successor will not follow the somewhat familiar European guidelines. There is no truth in the rumours that one of the many on-line betting shops has offered to sponsor a traditional stick-fight elimination contest. Ex-president and Zulu, Jacob Zuma, is an expert in this sport and has demonstrated his skill on many occasions. Just saying. One can set ones watch each year to the end of summer by the appearance of headlines about “a list of demands” prepared by students dissatisfied by the realisation that not all undergraduate life is party time. This time the rubber has hit the road by the indirect admission by the state that their NSFAS bursary scheme has almost no money to distribute. The hand-waving arguments are setting up breezes capable of driving a windmill. The two interlocking issues are of course that there is indeed little money available. The ridiculously optimistic national budget a week or so ago failed to admit that the disappearance of real taxpayers from their lists combined with ever more expenditure (including outright theft) had effectively drained the coffers. The second and even more unpopular fact is that we have little, in fact zero need for tens of thousands of soft-subject graduates. New Zealand won. Rugby followers are all too familiar with that headline. But this one belongs to sailing and refers to the latest Americas Cup event which culminated in a 10- race final in Auckland. This is a sport that on numerous scales might rate as the most expensive on the planet. It also is a record setter in adoption of technology. If you have not been paying careful attention for the past decade or so, you will not believe what has emerged from a relaxed and innovative attitude to rules interpretation, in respect to the design of the craft that compete. By the way, the Italian team came second! Not something their rugby team will do in the Six Nations. James Greener Friday 19th March 2021