Buckle up for a bumpy ride ahead

Simultaneously we have the debacle surrounding schools uniforms, school placement and the possible severe punishment levelled against drunk driving.

These issues, it seems, will in some or other way affect all of us, whether you are a parent or simply a motorist.

So buckle up: 2017 is going to be a bumpy ride and hopefully we can navigate it without too much recklessness.

To the first issue at hand: last year South Africa was rocked by the #FeesMustFall movement, as students pushed for free education.

Now, at the start of 2017, there is another ‘movement’ beckoning in education, which focuses on the school uniform debacle. Some are calling for a standard uniform for all.

Through a quick survey the Advertiser conducted on social media, it seems, according to parents, that uniforms in general are way too expensive.

At the end of 2016, it was reported that the Competition Commission was poised to get tough on South Africa’s school uniform monopolies, which force parents to cough up thousands of Rands for new school kit even though similar items can usually be bought elsewhere at a fraction of the cost.

At the heart of the commission’s proposed investigation into the R10-billion school uniform industry are long-standing “exclusive supplier” arrangements entered into between school governing bodies, principals and retailers and manufacturers.

The commission’s warning comes as parents shell out thousands of Rands for new uniforms for the 2017 school year.

With school fees and the cost of living already skyrocketing, parents are more than ever under the cosh to cough up more for stationery and for school uniforms.

One gets the feeling this is an issue that is going to get quite heated over the next couple of months.

And talking about schools, how about the debacle where 50 000 learners were not able to be placed at the start of the Gauteng school term?

This means there is a lack of at least 40 schools in Gauteng, with each needing a headmaster and staff. It seems vacancies will soon open for educators!

Yes, this will be an interesting year, with the #FeesMustFall movement still burning strong and as economists laugh at the President’s optimism for a 2.9 per cent rise in economic growth.

The other big issue (and no, we are not talking about Donald Trump) is that surrounding drunk driving, with the Department of Transport seeking to reclassify it as a schedule 5 offence.

This is the same category as rape and murder, and is part of a raft of measures aimed at reducing deaths on South African roads.

Road fatalities rose shockingly by 5 per cent in the 2016-17 festive season, and Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said on Tuesday that 2017 could see harsher sentences, including minimum sentencing, and the introduction of the long-awaited point demerit system for licences.

Take note, classifying drunk driving as a schedule 5 offence would also put the burden of proof for meeting bail conditions on the accused rather than the state.

What does this all mean? Well, a schedule 5 offence carries a minimum 15-year jail sentence.

Remember, in our beloved country, the legal limit is a breath alcohol content of 0.24mg per 1 000ml, or a blood alcohol limit of 0.05g per 100ml. This means for a couple of beers you could be facing a long time in the jail.

Madness, maybe? Such a tough call follows the 1 700 deaths on the road over the holiday season, mostly caused by reckless driving (exacerbated by intoxication) or driving unroadworthy vehicles.

The attempt to clamp down on drunk driving goes hand in hand with the government’s push to up the drinking age to 21 years (yes, this matter is still on the table).

This, of course, could all have some severe consequences on the social life of South Africans.

Is this way too radical and extreme? For those who have been victims of drunk driving, they will say no, but surely there must first of all be the realisation that every case will need to be judged on merit.

And then, of course, the other question that begs to be answered is, who will police all of this?

Indeed, 2017 is going to be an interesting year of the right to education, safety on the roads and, yes, above all, finding a way to pay for the bread on the table.

Like I said, buckle up and tighten the belt.