Mike PouraryanSouthern Africa in Turmoil....
September 3rd 2010 06:42
South Africa's strike is continuing. I wrote about my shock at Jacob Zuma leading a trade delegation to China as hospitals, schools and other vital institutions grinded to a halt. The issue is one of pay. The Public Sector wants to get a living wage. The Government says it can't afford it.
In the midst of this challenge, the development I find especially interesting to observe is the threat by COSATU to break away from the ruling African National Congress. If this in fact happens, I believe that this will begin to unravel the organization that is credited with defeating the evil of Apartheid. What I found telling was when the head of COSATU noted that he could not possibly prevent his members from marching and striking in solidarity with their fellow public sector brothers when Ministers drove 1.4 Million Rand BMW's and Mercedes' and their children were in private schools while they could not even earn a living wage. This is as South Africa continues an epidemic of corruption and crime that seems to be never ending.
Moving on to Mozambique, there have been food riots. The Government has been forced to raise prices due to the rise in food cost. What is more striking is the rate of unemployment in the country: 54 percent. I always thought that Mozambique was one of the success stories of recent times. This dispelled that notion very quickly.
These two countries are two of the largest Countries in Southern Africa. If South Africa cannot pull it together, it will have implications for the entire continent. The recent trials of Africa has forced me to ask this simple question: When will Africa realize its' true potential?
In the midst of this challenge, the development I find especially interesting to observe is the threat by COSATU to break away from the ruling African National Congress. If this in fact happens, I believe that this will begin to unravel the organization that is credited with defeating the evil of Apartheid. What I found telling was when the head of COSATU noted that he could not possibly prevent his members from marching and striking in solidarity with their fellow public sector brothers when Ministers drove 1.4 Million Rand BMW's and Mercedes' and their children were in private schools while they could not even earn a living wage. This is as South Africa continues an epidemic of corruption and crime that seems to be never ending.
Moving on to Mozambique, there have been food riots. The Government has been forced to raise prices due to the rise in food cost. What is more striking is the rate of unemployment in the country: 54 percent. I always thought that Mozambique was one of the success stories of recent times. This dispelled that notion very quickly.
These two countries are two of the largest Countries in Southern Africa. If South Africa cannot pull it together, it will have implications for the entire continent. The recent trials of Africa has forced me to ask this simple question: When will Africa realize its' true potential?
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