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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Johannesburg Filth and Health Troubles

Johannesburg city center is a slum and it is nothing new. A bus trip through the city center to the Johannesburg General Hospital (now named Charlotte Maxeko) is indeed a reminder of how dreadful this city has become.

Image from Google

Johannesburg was not always as bad as this, and it is true – every picture tells a story –

The filth, overcrowding and noise factors are not the only major concerns. It is the health risks and spread of diseases that would raise a major concern. The rats and scavengers are equally a problem that needs attention. Alas it gets worse with each passing year.

Johannesburg City Center 2008 - Image from Google

Johannesburg 2008, 2013 and 2014, images from Google

2013

August 2014

It is evident, that there is overcrowding, a rapid decline of service deliveries and an ultimate "I do not care," attitude.

The above four photos were taken on Monday November 3, 2014, depicting the state of Johandesburg city center.

No for the real shocker!

Johannesburg Hospital - November 2014

This picture was the only relatively decent one, although there are a few shrubs, the litter is evident.

Johannesburg Hospital - November 2014
This photo, is outside the main entrance to the hospital. The concrete slabs are loose and if a person is not careful, could easily fall and break a few bones. Of course the litter is the trademark.

Johannesburg Hospital - November 2014
This is a photo of a public toilet inside the hospital - broken, dirty and shameful.

Johannesburg city center is no better than most of the major centers that experience the same overcrowding problems. Causing other issue to escalate and spiral out of control. Twenty years into democracy has done nothing to improve the living conditions of people.

At the rate of deteriorating, there is little hope for improvement, especially since all the money has disappeared. What a pity and what a disaster. South Africa has absolutely no survival structure of beating any outbreak of Ebola.

Monday, November 3, 2014

South Africa Raising the Red Flag on Social Media

What is being seen by many as a possible racist war taking place on Social media may be raising a red flag for South African citizens. There has been an increase in posting of racist remarks inflamed with hatred toward the different cultures of the country. Social media platforms are popular among the diverse cultures that continually expand opinionated views often resulting in the perceived racial war.

There is a definite hint of hatred between the different cultures in South Africa. The minority white group promotes the slow genocide of whites, especially farm attacks. The crime is a reality, and several factual reports indicate that South Africa is on the stage six scale of genocide watch. The gross images of people murdered appear on social media sparking instant outrage.

Daily updates across social media of murders, robberies and attacks against whites are posted. Without insinuating who would be responsible for the horrendous crimes, social media will buzz with disparity of racial hatred. One post or one racial comment will spark the fury of war among the diverse cultures over social media.

There are many black cultures that still have the stigma of suffering under the white apartheid rule, creating a distinct element of division. The social media platform raises the hatred that burns deep within troubled minds. The open and blatant dislike of whites causes tensions to escalate among social media users.

The situation worsens every day, and there will always be someone waiting for the opportunity to cry ‘racist’. Arguments continue to claim how the apartheid government robbed the poor of a decent livelihood. Protest of wanting a better life and service deliveries and equality. Whining and openly displaying the frustration of fairness and rights not from the apartheid government but the ruling party of South Africa.

The chaos of the struggle against the apartheid government continues to dominate the racial hatred without any consideration of the new found freedom of democracy. The corruption, the arms deal, Nkandla and King Goodwill’s 18th palace spark racial hatred. The filthy state hospitals, continued protests over service deliveries and innocent people dying raise the red flag of war among the people of South Africa. It is the grumblings of frustrated citizens wanting land and the never ending struggle of farmers trying to survive all cast a gloomy outlook on social media.

Another article from the Guardian LV - read the entire story -

Read more at http://guardianlv.com/2014/11/south-africa-raising-the-red-flag-on-social-media/#2vElaEOr7G1J042E.99

South Africa Taxpayers Fund Government Laxity

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene of South Africa needs money, and it would ultimately be the taxpayers that would fund Government laxity. An amount of more than ZAR44 billion was required by government, and Nene has promised to raise taxes over the next three years. There is no indication of how taxes would be raised, and it is assumed that personal taxes, increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) and companies’ taxation would form part of the increased structure.

The Davis Tax committee would make recommendations before the February 2015 budget, and it is expected that the Finance Minister will consider proposals for tax increases. Earlier this year reports indicated that losses through VAT fraud amounted to almost ZAR24 billion annually. Raising the VAT amount would have a detrimental effect on the poor. A huge annual tax loss through corruption was highlighted.

VAT fraud remains a major concern and improving the structure would assist in funding the government’s budget plans. Informal traders, street vendors and taxi drivers rank among the highest VAT evasions. Crime, fraud and corruption within public and private sectors continue to dent the loss of revenue for state coffers. Perhaps the biggest loss of revenue for the state treasury is the wasteful expenditure within government departments. Astronomically high entertainment and travel claims account for the loss of income.

Opposition parties in South Africa commented on the mini-budget this week confirming that overspending is a cause of concern. The Democratic Alliance (DA) official opposition party stated that the higher rate of growth from other African countries outpacing South Africa tells the story of ineffectiveness. The DA expressed disappointment that no mention of reducing the current cabinet size was planned. Wasteful expenditure was ignored pointing to no cuts in government spending, thereby placing an additional burden on the taxpayers.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) wants the government to deal with tax evasion and improve on service deliveries. Capital shifting, base erosion and transfer pricing issues needed attention as the EFF said this caused millions to be lost in revenue.

The National Freedom Party (NFP) wanted Nene to address the service delivery protests presently destroying the country. The corruption and loss of ZAR30 billion unaccounted for and wasted was not mentioned. NFP wants investigations into wasteful expenditure, and corrupt officials dismissed and charged from crimes committed.

Academics indicate that tax increases should not be the preferred way to shore-up government finances. There is a call for spending cuts including reducing the Zuma cabinet that costs ZAR65 million annually. Curbing the growth of the civil service sector and controlling salary increases.

Creating jobs would raise revenue, and this would be an ambitious plan for government to indulge. The promise of creating employment by President Zuma never materialized as indicated in the election manifesto. Unemployment figures remain high and place an additional burden on government funding.

There is no money, and the government is scrapping the pot, it is indeed a worrying factor for taxpayers who foot the bill of wasteful expenditure. It is too little, too late for a decent recovery to expand on the growth.

New Guardian LV article - read the entire story -

Saturday, November 1, 2014

South Africa No Place for the Minority Group

There is no place for the minority group of Afrikaners in South Africa. Over the past twenty years, the cultural and Afrikaner rights have been suppressed. Political isolation and the violent attacks against farmers in particular cause evidence of the diminishing rights of this minority group.

South Africa is a diverse country with over 11 official languages and defined as a rainbow nation. There is nothing more or nothing less than defining the nation along racial lines. Racial classification is experienced, and diversity is ignored. The promotion of minorities and rights for Afrikaners remains an inconvenient truth.

The majority of Africans believe that Africa is the home of Africans and not of white settlers. Afrikaners are not considered an African tribe. The indigenous African people believe that any white has never been denied the right of self-determination and oppression. It is an aim that the white settlers were never invited to South Africa and the rest of the African continent. The settlement of whites has caused this group of people to become a minority in the new South Africa.

It is another belief that the majority of white settlers in South Africa were a direct cause of the overcrowding, political intolerances, religious and economic reasons that drove the settlers to the African continent. The indigenous people believe with the white settlers came the dreaded same conditions that drove them away from original countries.

Many Afrikaners want a separate state within South Africa. The minority group wants a state where self-determination and the right to practice cultural rights without the continuous crime and discrimination. There is the conviction that Afrikaners are dominant and have exclusive rights to choose any area within South Africa. The majority proclaim the right of Afrikaners to continue exercising hatred toward Africans remains unchallenged.

The majority believe that South Africa is a country where all have rights to live free of racism. The issue of tribalism is no longer an issue as racism remains the greater practiced. Living alongside the diverse cultures is indeed a challenge. There is no freedom from racism, and this will forever remain problematic within the Rainbow Nation.

Every functioning democracy needs a balance between left and right and perhaps the idea of a separate state for the minority is not a recognized solution. More importantly is the protection of different cultures and the rights of minority groups. Without support, it is easy for the majority to bully the minority groups.

Racism works equally well on both the left and right side. It is the promotion of rights and protection of cultures of the minority groups that needs to be applied. The government supports unity and integration.

Another article published on the Guardian LV - be sure to read the entire report.

South Africa and the Draconian Laws of the Revenue Services

The South African Revenue Services (SARS) have implemented draconian laws in an attempt to recover taxes from companies and individuals. The law gives SARS the right to take money from a bank account without permission from the account holder. It is a harsh code of laws that can have detrimental effects on people who already struggle to cope with the high cost of living.

South Africa has a population of approximately 53 million people, and it is estimated that 11 million people file tax returns annually. A staggering four million of the registered taxpayers are exempt from tax due to the tax threshold, leaving the burden of tax payable on nearly six million people. Of course, the collection tactics are severe considering the low number of taxable people in South Africa.

In South Africa, informal traders, such as street hawkers and taxi drivers evade the tax system. Although evasion is not limited to the informal sector, a moderate number of high-income earners and business owners have options to bypass the taxation. Small business owners claim that business and individual tax are one of a kind does span across both formal and informal taxpayers.

Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa has mentioned that taxes will increase, and there are indications that high-income earners will bear the highest tax burden. The informal sector growth will continue to find a way of avoiding the rule of tax by neither breaking the law, but rather will use an intelligent attempt to circumvent the tax plan. The strict labor laws and lowering of personal taxes can close the widening gap between the formal and informal taxpayers.

The power of certain SARS officials allows for searches without warrants, collecting information from banks, estate agents, medical funds and lawyers. SARS can exercise an aggressive approach in dealing with tax avoidance or tax evasion. The amount of information SARS can demand are staggering since the new regulations have been passed. The dynamic approach used by SARS is to tighten the net of non taxpayers and tax evasion in South Africa.

New article posted on the Guardian LV - be sure to read the entire article