TAXI DRIVERS. SOUTH AFRICA’S REAL POWER BLOC

In four closely spaced moves in early 2020 the Reserve Bank dropped the Repo rate from 6.25% to 3.5% where it has remained ever since. Obviously this slashing of the cost of money was supposed to be a prop for the economy which was expected to (and did) collapse as a result of the lockdown measures taken by our leaders in their attempt to control the spread of Covid-19. Nothing much to do with responding to and controlling this infection has gone according to plan. In the last few days any South African with a computer or mobile phone connected to the internet will have received dozens of unintelligible scripts droning on about Protection of Personal Information Act, POPIA to its creators. This legislation kicked in yesterday but it’s not clear what is expected of us. “Nothing” seems the best reaction. Even before computers the possibility of someone using your private information to commit a fraud has existed. And vigilance rather than legislation is the preferred protection. Today the reach of the internet is now so deep and embedded that despite any regulation, the baddies will still obtain and use anything they want. On how many memory sticks, hard drives and devices does each of us have details of our contacts. And how about that not quite extinct publication called the phone book? Will golf clubs have to erase all records of their members scores and handicaps? The Ski Boat Club has kindly informed me that “Daisy” is responsible for operating CCTV and Encrypted backups. Thanks for that. The one organisation that most of us would request to erase their records about us is SARS – the tax man. Simultaneously with POPIA, the AARTO legislation is reaching fruition. This apparently will link drivers and their cars with past infractions of the law. Undoubtedly the road safety record of our nation is in sore need of fierce and uncompromising application of laws already in place. But the reaction of the immensely powerful minibus taxi industry to any attempt to do so has in the past failed. The drivers say “No”. Hmm. Constitutional court Justice Sisi Khampepe is a feisty lady – who told Jacob Zuma – the previous state president what she thought of his attitude and sentenced him to 15 months in prison for contempt of court. He was given a few days to pack his kit and choose his books and is required to pitch up round about now at a police station to start his sentence. In the great South African tradition of siding with the guilty, a paramilitary posse has pitched up at Nkandla, Jacob’s now sadly rather under cared-for home in deepest Zululand. Whether to escort him to his incarceration or repel officialdom coming to take him away was not clear. It’s always interesting in Africa. The ‘bokke take on the Lelos, the Georgian national side, tonight at Ellis Park. It could be a very tough game, as any side would like to beat the world champs on their first match since hoisting the world cup. Unfortunately, not only will there be no spectators allowed but anyone contemplating sneaking round to watch the game on his brother-in-law’s gigantic new TV flat screen must prepare for a sprint home to beat the curfew. This virus is changing our lives mercilessly. As a veteran Tour de France competitor (in the static couch potato division) Tidemarks was interested in the attempted protest by the participants in this year’s race. The route, they say, is in places too dangerous. There have indeed been some very spectacular crashes, caused by, amongst other factors, rather stupid spectators. But the kudos and prestige of this race is such that among the nearly 150 competitors someone will always break the attempted boycott and use their fellow competitor’s sullen slow down to their own benefit. Inevitably, by the end of the day of the protest, the riders were back to breakneck speeds and fiercely competitive behaviour even if the chance of a trip to casualty to extract pieces of bike from one’s body remains high. Which – apart from the breath-taking scenery – is why we watch. James Greener Friday 2nd July 2021