BlogsEditor's noteOpinion

Two Bits – September 27, 2013

Some people say that tourism is the principal economy of the Dolphin Coast, but that's wishful thinking.

The principal driver of the local economy is sugar cane and other agricultural crops.
The chart of the rise and fall of business fortunes is almost directly related to the growing conditions: rainfall and sunshine. If the rains are good, the farmers are happy. If they are happy, they spend well and we’re all happy.
Bad news is that the sugar price has gone to hell and imports are cutting the feet out from under local producers. The local industry is worth about R12 billion a year, employing 40 000 workers which is 11% of the country’s agricultural workforce.
Combined with a glut of cheap sugar on the world market, which means the price could drop even further, there are 50 000 fewer hectares under sugar in SA now than 10 years ago. The industry has asked the government to introduce a trade tariff to dissuade imports, but it will be a month or so before farmers know if the industry will enjoy protection.
* * *
Heavy vehicles have been avoiding the N2 toll since the day it started, hammering the M4 coast road and the old R102. Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians have been killed and injured by heavies.
Locals, principally eThekwini councillor Geoff Pullan of Westbrook, have pleaded long and loud with provincial government to find ways of stopping the carnage by forcing the heavies back onto the N2. To no avail.
But the recent tragedy on Field’s Hill presents an opportunity for a re-think by ‘Maritzburg of all toll-avoiding ‘heavies’. I appeal to KwaDukuza and Ilembe councillors to add their voices to this cause. It is not right that heavy trucks that are only passing through our region, should be allowed to damage side roads and kill our people in the interests of avoiding a few rands toll fees.
* * *
A lady phones me last week: “What’s your name?” she barks.
I tell her, and how can I help?
“I have a complaint.”
“Okay,” sez I, “concerning an article in the paper, or one of my staff?”
“Yes, it’s about one of your advertisers (she gives the name of a supermarket). They didn’t have an item they advertised.”
So I invite her to tell me the nature of the complaint. Not that I can do anything if whoever runs out of strawberries, but I’ll listen. But no, there is a twist.
She says “But I am very busy right now. I am packing to go to the airport. I want you to phone me back!”
Hello, thinks I, here’s a strange one.
“And when should I phone you back?” I ask, resisting the urge to put the phone down.
“When I’m not busy, of course!” she snapped.
I suggested she phone me back when she decided she wasn’t busy and left it at that.
I swear it’s true!
* * *
A real woman is a man’s best friend.
She will never stand him up and never let him down.
She will reassure him when he feels insecure and comfort him after a bad day.
She will inspire him to do things he never thought he could do; to live without fear and forget regret.
She will enable him to express his deepest emotions and give in to his most intimate needs.
She will make sure he always feels as though he’s the most handsome man in the room and will enable him to be the most confident, seductive and invincible . . .
No wait . . . sorry. . . I’m thinking of brandy, never mind.

At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here.
Back to top button