Rat Crisis in South Africa Gets Attention

Rat Crisis in South Africa Gets Attention

It is not only rats that roam the streets of cities and informal townships, as cockroaches and other annoying insects thrive in the filth. The giant rats run rampant through sewer systems and gutters, and are found in work and home environments. The explosion of rats reflects the efficiency of civil servants around the entire country.

The rat crisis is not a new problem for South Africa. As the years roll by, the rats get bigger, more frightening and more unsightly. Rats larger than cats have been caught in several townships, and municipalities around all of South Africa have to deal not only with the rat problem, but also be wary of infections and other possible outbreaks of health risks.

There has been too little and sometimes no attention over the past twenty years to this growing problem, and the failing service deliveries have contributed to the rise of the infested rats having free reign around South Africa. The rats thrive in the filthy township conditions and feast on uncollected rubbish. The ANC government needs to attend to the cause of the rat crisis by stopping workers from striking, collecting refuse on a regular basis and maintaining the infrastructure. During his first term as president, Jacob Zuma boasted that there was a plan to alleviate unemployment and create jobs. Zuma could hire people to clean up the cities, get rid of the rats, improve service deliveries and keep his promise.

Alexandra Township, bordering the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, has battled the war against rats for years. The ANC Council tried to get rid of the plague by using barn owls after more normal ways had failed utterly. Many residents consider barn owls an evil omen, but the council members have implemented programs to educate the residents about the importance of combating the rat crisis.

During 2011 in two separate incidents, two young children were killed by rats. In Khayelitsha, Cape Town, a three-year-old child was killed in her sleep after being attacked by rats. Soweto Township south of Johannesburg experienced the wrath of rats when a young child was bitten to death by giant rats. The teenage mother of the victim said she would never forget the repulsion of seeing the child’s eyes ripped out, and bite marks over her cheeks and forehead.

Published on Guardian LV - read the entire article

Read more at http://guardianlv.com/2014/09/rat-crisis-in-south-africa-gets-attention/#7wKuic3irDhAO8gB.99

President Zuma is Protected: Right or Wrong

President Zuma is Protected: Right or Wrong

The ANC blindly leads the country on a destructive path with no thought for the future of the people, the land or its resources. The theft, mismanagement, nepotism and corruption of Zuma and the ruling party remain frequent topics of disconcertion. The majority who continually vote for the ANC, fully aware of the faults of Zuma, defend the ANC emphatically without doubt. Stories covering the blatant maladministration, often involving Zuma, flow across news channels sparking comments from the public, yet the majority of ANC supporters do not object. The ANC presume that it is mainly minority group views that are considered as incorrect and inaccurate. Perhaps it is the perspicacity, reasoning and judgment of the loyal ANC supporters that astonishes the intellect of the minority groups.

The ANC recently issued a report about the continued attacks against Zuma, not in his personal capacity, but because of his position. The ANC believes they are discredited due to the progressive policies the party implements, causing a high disapproval among critics. ANC spokesperson, Zizi Kodwa, believes there is an agenda to damage the reputation of Zuma and the ANC party. Kodwa said the minority parties hurled insults toward the ANC because they think it is a communist regime. Kodwa mentioned the superiority of race, saying critics saw the black majority as inefficient and corrupt.

All allegations, criticisms and offense regarding Zuma and the nuclear deal, the bribery in the controversial arms deal were dismissed as rumor-mongering by Kodwa. According to Kodwa, people miss the point and are not interested in building a future for the country, only criticizing the actions of the ruling party.

Another article published on the GUARDIAN LV 

Read more at http://guardianlv.com/2014/09/president-zuma-is-protected-right-or-wrong/#msJdqQF5hhTh9Kox.99

South Africa Water Crisis: Back to Basics

South Africa Water Crisis: Back to Basics

Years ago, when a pipe burst, the reporting of such an event was taken seriously and most repairs were attended to within eight hours. The lack of response from call center attendants when reporting a leak or burst pipe is considered a waste of time for most people who report an incident. The recorded messages and music the public must listen to before talking to a consultant is ridiculous. More often than not, a good 45 minutes is wasted on a telephone call. When matters are reported over the Internet or by email, the prompt response to the urgency of the problem is also absent.

Ongoing maintenance is not managed effectively and recalling the basic structure would benefit the system. An increased capacity for water would be readily obtainable in dams if only regular maintenance and frequent cleaning of the filth took place. There was a basic structure that worked years ago, forsaken for fraud and corruption.

Corruption is always part of the general organization and in the smaller areas, water shortage is regarded as a normality. Water tankers riding around the streets, selling water to residents are often linked to councilors who are part of the deal to outwit people. Instead of attending to public duties and ensuring repairs and maintenance run uninterrupted, government facilities are used for personal gain.

ANOTHER GUARDIAN LV ARTICLE 
Read more at http://guardianlv.com/2014/09/south-africa-water-crisis-back-to-basics/#AlPRmgZ1IRDhpH9H.99

Where have all the whites gone – Seriously

I was able to visit Durban, South Africa for a few days, and was shocked that the city had changed to such a degree that almost zero whites were around the beach front. My last visit to Durban just over two years ago was pleasant, and there were sufficient whites around which seemed to me that Durban was still a reasonable city to visit. At least the sea was relatively still fantastic, although I would not swim in there, cannot take that chance, who knows what people do in the sea.

Where have all the whites gone? I walked along the beach front last week on Saturday and did not see one white person. The beachfront was active and busy, people hustling about enjoying the sea and the warm weather. I felt like an alien among all the dark people and quickly ventured back to the hotel where I would find safety.

I quickly learnt of many events were taking place around the city of Durban, there was a soccer match at the Moses Mabhida stadium, the world youth chess championships and a beer festival. Perhaps the football game drove many blacks into the city to support their team. I was relieved to find scores of whites in the hotel, although not South Africans, but foreigners who were there to compete in the beer festival and chess championship. Many black supporters left Durban after the football game and I assumed that another walk on the beach would seem more or less normal. I was wrong, Sunday; it seemed that masses of blacks from local townships invaded the beach front to enjoy a swim in the sea. A busy place, traffic was hectic, and bus loads of people opted for a day in the sun. While walking along the promenade, I tried to count the number of white people, but alas, there were not even five. 

Venturing down to uShaka, marine world, for the rest of the day, was surprising and pleasant; there were white people all around. The white people were mostly tourists who came to experience the lovely aquarium and catch a glimpse of the dolphins and sea creatures. uShaka is by far the best place to visit in Durban. It is clean!

A visit to Sun Coast Casino Entertainment Center was no more enlightening for me as the amount of white visitors was insignificant. The place was crowded as expected; although the entertainment section is, secure, ensuring guests do enjoy their visit. The place was clean and staff considerate, it is not a dangerous place to visit. Definitely a more protected environment.

The inner city of Durban was filthy; it reminded me of some of the slum areas that have sprung up around South Africa. Garbage scattered all over the place, street vendors occupying most of the allocated pedestrian walking space, selling cheap inferior goods, totally overcrowded and beggars all around trying to gather a few pennies for who knows what, drugs, alcohol or food. Even the giant rats, the size of cats and bigger, scurried away from the crowds.

I guess; Durban is not a white person’s city, and a few that do remain are residents who have lived there all their lives. There are many residential suburbs in Durban that are reasonable and well maintained. However, there are the usual problems of potholes, traffic lights not working and service delivery functions that need improvement. These problems are not unique to Durban alone, as these troubles are scattered all over the country.

I decided to visit the uShaka center again and to my surprise; the place was rather quiet. There not too many people around until buses started off loading scores of local school children visiting the center for the day. The school children were all black; I never saw a little white face, so I assume that most local schools in and around Durban have a high rate of black students. I managed to sneak a photo of one bus load of children and thought to myself that if this massive crowd ran toward me, I would be trampled to death within minutes. It is a scary thought and more so when there are hordes of blacks around.

I will probably never visit Durban again; it is another city, in South Africa that I have personally listed as a definite never to visit the place again. Durban like most of the main cities in South Africa has deteriorated from a pleasant, safe and clean environment, into a filthy, overcrowded, rat-infested city.

My next trip will be a sea cruise to the Mediterranean but certainly not on a South African ship. Cannot take the chance of seeing large rats again, and perhaps that will delight me more than touring South Africa. 

I am not the only person who thinks Durban is a mess, here is an article written in 2011 expressing a concern about the city.

http://matthewsavides.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/on-a-slippery-slope-a-take-on-durbans-proposed-beachfront-upgrade-expansion/

Read the article and watch the video! Durban is overcrowded.

VIDEO: LIKE A COLONY OF ANTS THAT JUST FOUND HONEY – SOUTH AFRICA BEACH ON THE 1ST OF JANUARY LOOKS LIKE WORLD WAR Z!

 http://www.shockmansion.com/2014/01/05/video-like-a-colony-of-ants-that-just-found-honey-south-africa-beach-on-the-1st-of-january-looks-like-world-war-z/

Video link - January 2014

Water Crisis in South Africa Signals a Failing Democracy

Water Crisis in South Africa Signals a Failing Democracy

The main reason for the water crisis, as stated by the Committee chairperson Mlungisi Johnson, is the persistent theft of copper, the maintenance of facilities and implementation of a new water plan. Johnson said there was an urgency to protect the electrical power supply to water pumping stations and this would be considered.

The current disturbance caused by the water crisis could, potentially, lead to conflict as societies in South Africa become angered by not having the necessary water service. The resultant protests could, then, ignite the anger of an even larger portion of the populace.

A report published in April this year stated that South Africa had experienced a total of 48 service delivery protests in the first few months of the year. There is, already, an upward trend in protests, and infuriated residents are demanding the African National Congress (ANC) government deliver on promises made.

President Jacob Zuma told supporters at an election rally this year that South Africa had a good story to tell. Compared to the protests happening on a regular basis around the country, a good story has not developed.

Read the entire article on the Guardian LV - here is the link.

http://guardianlv.com/2014/09/water-crisis-in-south-africa-signals-a-failing-democracy/