Your president calling on you....

[Dave A]

That's quite a novel form of protest action. Let's hope it's taken in good spirit.

[Dave S]

The big purge has begun. Who is next?

Is this not how Mugbean (no that's not a spell error) came to power? By threatening and crushing his opposition (and generously rewarding his supporters)? We all know how that turned out...

[Blurock]

Is this not how Mugbean (no that's not a spell error) came to power? By threatening and crushing his opposition (and generously rewarding his supporters)? We all know how that turned out...

History will show that all dictators follow more or less the same strategy.

[Blurock]

Also, Intellect has little bearing on ethics.

There is a small difference between intellect and sly and cunning...

[Dave S]

There is a small difference between intellect and sly and cunning...

Intellect, would be the ability to organise, produce, etc. within the given boundaries (legally) and without harming others. Will require a strong thought process to ensure sustainability.
Sly and Cunning, not necessarily that ethical and may well include breaking the given boundaries and often includes harm to others. Requires a deviant thought process, sustainable only as long as you hold the power!

[Dave A]

Intellect is essentially an inherent capacity to think and reason. I suggest its mere presence does not determine how it will be applied though - that's more a function of character.

[pmbguy]

There is also the aspect of Emotional intelligence and Social intelligence. And how this combines with Intelligence (general)

[Blurock]

Instead of following the example of Pres Banda of Malawi who sold her plane and got rid of the luxury vehicles, the VIP's in the ANC must now get new planes to fly around in and waste more taxpayers money! Is it more important to keep the leadership of the ANC in the lap of luxury than to defend our porous borders and "key points".

If these #@$% just kept maintaining the planes it would not be necessary to replace them every 5 years. The defence force does not have proper transport planes, but the VIP's have to be Zoomed around in luxury?!!!

[Chrisjan B]

Fumb duckers!

[Dave A]

Annualised GDP for Q1 comes in at 0.9% and the Rand is sliding.

So out comes JZ today and the Rand tanks to over R10 to the USD. What the heck did JZ say today to offend the markets so much?

Zuma: South Africa needs you
Zuma: Strikes are normal
Zuma appoints ministerial team to boost mining industry.

Or maybe it's that this was a surprise media briefing from the President - a sign that the situation is indeed pretty serious?

[Justloadit]

I think the situation is bordering on a major recession

[Justloadit]

"We need faster growth. Without faster growth we cannot succeed in reducing unemployment, poverty and inequality," said Zuma.

With the grid on Monday at 99.5% of capacity, how the heck can the economy grow, actually manufacturing grow wit out energy?

Since the black outs started in 2010 because of ESKOM's incompetence, the South African economy has been steadily declining.
The only reason that the black outs have been put at bay, is simply because the South African economy practically collapse, and therefor did not need any energy.

For any manufacturing growth, will require a minimum of an extra 25% capacity that is currently available. Any growth requires energy to power the growth, with out it we are lame ducks in this huge pond called Africa.

[Blurock]

Annualised GDP for Q1 comes in at 0.9% and the Rand is sliding.

So out comes JZ today and the Rand tanks to over R10 to the USD. What the heck did JZ say today to offend the markets so much?

Zuma: South Africa needs you
Zuma: Strikes are normal
Zuma appoints ministerial team to boost mining industry.

Or maybe it's that this was a surprise media briefing from the President - a sign that the situation is indeed pretty serious?

...and we need to create jobs. ...and we need to kickstart the economy. ...and we have mountains of money to spend on businesses that can make a contribution.

Then when you ask the IDC for assistance to provide 25% of your own investment to create new jobs and also to secure existing jobs, to replace imports and contribute to the economy by exporting, you get the same answer as the pawnbroking banks; "what security can you provide?"