The human face of recession.

[Dave A]

A few stories around the impact of job losses. It's a tough world

[tec0]

Right now the number of people that is not able to get jobs due to race and or qualification is at a breaking point. We cannot say we moved forward because history is repeating itself and government can no longer deny their involvement. BE preference is the norm but one may wonder what the true motive behind the system is.

Still government is not the only entity. Last year I have spoken to one of the main managers of a large industrial company. They are only second to Telkom, Eskom and the telecommunication industry. They are as big as it gets. So in our discussion I asked him about the money that is paid to both skilled and unskilled workers and why they don’t do a bit more development so that the worker have some chance to WORK themselves up.

He just said if you don’t want to work for the money WE give you than you haven’t suffered enough... That was his answer. I felt like stabbing him but I just turned and walked away giving him the satisfaction that he won some stupid argument.

Still his remark underlines the bigger problem at hand. They know people need work and they WILL without blinking an eye keep you where you are and exploit the current economic situation because it is profitable. Right now “new townships� are developing. 1500 people most of them can read and write gets no aid from government nor do they qualify for skills development programs. Why? You tell me...

Look I know it looks like that I am trying to put the business owner in the bad light ALL the time. But these are not private businesses they own 90% of all government contracts and they are the real big cats. So in that bases NO I am not just targeting companies and businesses I know there is people that want to do more for the people that work for them and I can see it I am not stupid.

But I can see the largest industries in South Africa functioning on poverty because it IS good for business... simply because exploitable labour exist...

You want to stop the problem change the system OR leave it and see where we are in 5 short years from now...

[twinscythe12332]

in all honesty, why do we need to suffer because of the recession at all? it's just a few people at the very top who say they don't have enough money, and need a bailout. We end up footing the bill for their greedy ways, as that bail out comes through taxes and price hikes. Once they get it, they hold onto it like a crocodile in a death roll. all because they lend out more money than they truly have.

[tec0]

Fact Africa has become the world’s charity-case. Every year we need billions for this and billions for that and every year more farms are NOT producing and more companies close down. We don’t need billions from other countries. We need an infrastructure to sustain growth and despite popular belief it is really easy to do. BUT in order develop the infrastructure we need leadership... That’s the problem right now...

[BBBEE_CompSpec]

Recessions is a figmentation of your mind. It only exists if you let it.

[tec0]

Well yes and no... Look I am all for positive thinking but I do know how difficult people have it, especially young adults. That is why I try to help where I can even with my limited funds. Thankfully I can fix things.

It is a dog eats dog world at this point in time, mega-corporations are enjoying their blood money right now because an alternative simply doesn’t exit. It is time South Africa becomes independent again. And that means to stop asking for money and start with innovation. We used to be good at it...

Training programs and state owned workshops will be a good start. It will give people the opportunity to develop skills and even get qualifications “useful qualifications� and more importantly this can help shape the dynamics of future businesses and even force mega-corporations to negotiate.

[desA]

... It is time South Africa becomes independent again. And that means to stop asking for money and start with innovation. We used to be good at it...

If only you knew how correct this is.

A true story. I ended up on a flight from East London to Jhb, with Nconde Balfour sitting next to me. We got chatting about SA & the unemployment.

I asked him what was being done about generating jobs. The reply : "We need the unemployed to come to us & tell what what they need".

My answer was : "They are unemployed & poor, because precisely because they do not have ideas. Your job, as government, is to facilitate & think ahead. To create the climate where new ideas can flourish & new jobs be created."

The answer : was none.

Listen. Identify what South Africans are really good at. Build vision. Build expertise & focus. Create the environment for expansion. Most importantly, set up an international marketing team from the government to go out & sell SA products into the world.

Just look at the 'Made in Thailand' concept. I know the Director behind this government thrust. He has headed up trade missions around the world. When Thailand needs export business, he activates the embassy staff in the target country & they set up linkages between Thai suppliers & end users. Go get it tigers...

Oh, in the end, Balfour was kind-enough to fish his business card out of his luggage on the carousel, with all his bodyguards around us laughing their heads off. He was a thoroughly nice man & I wish him well.

[tec0]

Fact is agriculture is the “end game� Once all the mines close and we have only our land to work with then we will see the truth and importance of agriculture. Yes, this is the ultimate investment. Imagine having more food that we can possibly need? That is true wealth.

I have written about this before and I will say it over and over again. Build a nuclear power plant, use it to drive a massif water-purification-system and a massif pumping-network and start getting clean water where we need it.

Whit this emplace the sky is the limit! We can generate food, wealth and financial stability within a few short years. More importantly with farming you can generate mass work and that is what we need!

[Dave A]

He was a thoroughly nice man & I wish him well.

Being likable is the stock in trade of politicians. So is the art of not saying "no" without saying "yes." Our lot is pretty smooth, alright.

They're all perfectly agreeable, but doesn't that lack of vision and insight trouble you? Are they really fit for the job?

[desA]

Being likable is the stock in trade of politicians. So is the art of not saying "no" without saying "yes." Our lot is pretty smooth, alright.

They're all perfectly agreeable, but doesn't that lack of vision and insight trouble you? Are they really fit for the job?

This is so very true of any politician. Honestly.

I think that SE Asia has taught some excellent lessons in understanding that politicians are only ever in it for themselves. Corruption is endemic.

If the politicans cannot be trusted, then, to guide a nation to prosperity - because, they can't - who then is going to fill the leadership vacuum required to create vision & initiate change?

NGO's? No, because they are also political & are also only in it for themselves.

Industry? How to get the direction, motivation & movitation?

Does the government have a Trade Mission group who understand how to market SA products & skills in the international arena?