By George Annandale (News24 user)
It was reported that the South African government feels snubbed after not being invited to a Bric (Brazil, Russia, India and China) summit.
Trade and industry director-general Tshediso Matona said, "South Africa was not there quite simply because we were not invited. The department of international co-operation must look into this. We must be in that club. We belong there."
Poor South Africans, once again we are rejected. We are entitled to the centre of the world stage despite our "proud" record of violent crime, our rapid falling life expectancy, our economic growth considerably lower than other emerging economies, one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, low and dropping position on world productivity ratings, being identified as a unattractive investment target for mining, collapsing infrastructure.
Truth is, only fellow citizens walking around wearing rose coloured shades, believe we have anything to offer the world. Do we really think we have something to contribute? I thought with Mbeki out of our lives we would be outgrowing his "illusions of grandeur" and his visions of "the Africa century".
It is time people like this "badge hunter" and his boss, Rob Davies, realise our "tortured past" does not entitle us to positions of power and membership of organisations. The principle of entitlement only works in South Africa.
Imagine their state of shock when they realised that they could not even use the "colonial guilt" stick to beat the organisers with, although I'm rather surprised that someone has not yet accused the Bric Block of being racist but that may still happen. Suffice to say, maybe they, the confused will soon realise we have to perform to get ahead.
If our hard done by friends look critically at our performance over the past 15 years, and stop believing what they want us to believe, they will notice the brutal truths of our dismal performance as a country. Looking at measures of success and measuring yourself against benchmarks determines your worth. In the case of South Africa, we do not measure up in a number of critical areas.
First, life expectancy, which is globally considered a critical measure, has dropped from 65 in 1994 to 51 in 2007. Second, our average economic growth (GDP) grew by 4.5% per year over the past four years. We are told it is good. The truth is, other emerging economies and resource based economies like Chile, India, Indonesia and even African countries like Tanzania and Zambia have grown by 6-8% per annum over the same period. It seems our leaders, instead of boasting about our economic growth, should hang their collective heads in shame.
Thirdly, we find ourselves in a situation where we live in a criminally insane society with one of the worst crime rates in the world and our President attributes crime to perceptions and an unpatriotic media.
Fourthly, in the recently published Global Competitive Review, South Africa finds itself at number 49 out of 57 countries measured. On top of this, we find ourselves having one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, number three, in fact.
To complete a dismal picture, add our collapsing infrastructure, (Rail, Roads, water security and Eskom) and I think we can safely say it is a bit presumptuous to demand recognition as a leading light in the Global village.
Unless South Africans understand the issues and bravely face the truth, we will have no chance turning back from the precipice.
Rob Davies and his DG are doing us no favours by being indignant because they are not given the recognition they, with their inflated sense of self-importance, believe they are entitled to.
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10 Opinion(s):
Everything in the article is true, and summarised sweetly. One can just add that when the ANC homies wake up to the fact that money is tight, and that the white cannot be milked any harder or longer, and when the rest of the world starts giving them the 2 fingered salute, and when it strikes them that their ( yes their ) WC2010 is headed for a fuckup, and that their pre-election lies are destined to exposed to the voting fodder - that's when whitey will have to run, duck and dive - because the blame will all come our way.
Sure we have to offer something to the world. The finest collection of AIDS viruses !
The clue is in the name... SA's exclusion might, just might, be based on the fact that we are neither Brazil, Russia, India nor China. Just a thought :)
YOU CAN FOOL SOME OF THE PEOPLE SOME OF THE TIME…………….Why would BRIC want SA involved? Africa is the plan, not part of the plan. The Chinese support for COSATU is simply to destabilize the economy and to create an emerging market for the cheaper Chinese products. This is the thanks SA gets from their great Chinese counterparts for refusing the Dahli Lama an SA visa. Pay back my ass. The money well is drying up for the ever darkening Africa. First, Canada, then Morgan returned home with an empty bowl. And now this. Is there a pattern of African renunciation occurring? Africa is been swept under the ignominious RED carpet. Failed state of affairs. Let them have their AU jet set parties, where they can sanctify the likes of the great self-important African leaders, Mugabe, Gaddafi et al.
The tide is turning, and not in the favour of the Africoons. It had to happen sooner or later, and methinks it has begun. The sad truth is that these over-inflated black egotists are living in denial, brought on by their misinformed conceitedness, created by the misled liberals portrayal of the mystical african romanticism. There was only one black messiah besides Obama, and he is that other commie, Mandella. These AU monkeys are calling for African solutions to African problems. But not with African money. Even Eskom has to rape my savings and extra money, because no-one in the world wants to finance this once dignified organisation.
They should have spent the money the way it was intended when it was handed to them. Now, take a look at the imminent mess we are in. Africa has become the BLACK sheep. Mandellism has lost its bling, its old hat, and African leaders are being judged for what they are, not what they would appear to be.
Did SA really consider these people, who supplied them with weapons to “liberate” themselves, as friends. Wake-up, they were after the mineral wealth, and now that the wealth is depleting , do they truly expect humanitarian aid from the gun givers. One only has to look at their (China & Russia) own track records with regards to the human rights myth. Nothing for nothing means nothing. Once again thanks to Mad Bob for showing it the way it is. Africa is been forced to grow up. The world does not have the time to nurture the big black baby anymore. We are in for one helluva ride.
Tshediso Matona said, "South Africa was not there quite simply because we were not invited. The department of international co-operation must look into this. We must be in that club. We belong there."
Not nice getting the cold shoulder is it? Now just imagine how the Dalai Lama felt.
nice one Vince!
Africa is learning, rightly, that it will have to actually produce something it can sell to the world, and not just rely on handouts. India, Brazil and China have learnt this, and so has Russia. SA? not yet.
Australia is, geographically, an African country. Is has nothing but minerals and tourist destinations. But the attitude of the people is different, and that has turned Oz into a paradise.
Africa has minerals, but it also has beautiful tourist attractions, and not really much else. African workers are the least efficient in the world. Everything it exports can be got from Latin America more easily and cheaper. Germans still pay more for African bananas rather than central American ones - they don't have to, they just do. And Guatemalans are suffering for it despite being more efficient.
Africa needs to grow up.
I guess they don't practise affirmative action on the world stage. They must be counter-revolutionaries, traitors, racists, and.. er, what's that other one, oh yes, going against "transformation".
I think that South Africa should be in the club called 'Brics' as no other countries leaders have so clearly shown that they have brics in their head than the South African munt ministers.
So much hatred - just move! I did and am as happy as a pig in mud!! :D
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