Two Bits – 12 December 2014

A year ago this week, the Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, passed away.
It is quite extraordinary how this man, this bogeyman of the Sixties and Seventies for several generations of white South Africans, became loved and admired far beyond our borders
After 27 years in jail he was unbowed, absolutely determined to carry out his and his organisation’s dream of a country governed by the people. However, his lack of desire for revenge upon his jailers, the white government, his humility and willingness to forgive, earned him worldwide admiration.
Above all, he wanted a South Africa governed for the people, by the people. He was not vain, he was not corrupt, he did not seek to enrich himself from the public purse. He was no softie, but he was not a bully.
This week we carry an interview with one of his nurses, who now lives in Salt Rock, who nursed him in the early days of his release from Robben Island. Hers is a fascinating story, and gives some idea of the awe in which he was held by the whole country who did not know him, but thought he was to be feared.
We should ask ourselves, would Nelson Mandela be happy with the way things are in South Africa today? What would he have to say about the rampant nepotism that allows people to be given crucial jobs without qualifications? It is left to the newspapers to reveal that people lied their way into top positions. And then what retribution is there? Precious little, it would seem.
What would he say about Nkandla, and a president whose stock answer is “I didn’t know about it”. Truth is, Jacob Zuma has become an embarrassment to his party and the office, but nobody knows how to deal with him.
We have our triple crisis in the Dolphin Coast this summer: water, roads and electricity. The local economy is going to be severely affected by the poor forward planning of many government departments. In all likelihood we are not alone in our crisis. A look at the national papers will tell you that it is a scenario being played out across the country in ways big and small, because there is insufficient political will and backbone to stop it.
To think of Mandela is to think of what could have been. And it is not too late, we hope, for strong leaders to step forward who will turn this country around and make it as great as it should be. The ANC should grasp the nettle and promtoe Cyril Ramaphosa to the top job, and maybe make way for the country’s first lady deputy – Thuli Madonsela?
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This is something of a record: on June 2, 2010, I sent an email to the Telkom IT helpdesk, asking their input on a problem I was having with an ADSL modem. I heard no answer at the time and moved on.
Imagine my surprise last week – four years later – to receive an email with an answer. So I asked, what took you so long?
Their reply: “We do apologize for the very late reply, rather late than never. :-[ our email server crashed and we were not aware of the date this email was sent.”
Better late than never, hey? Never mind, go back to sleep guys.
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“How long have you been driving without a tail light, sir?” demanded the policeman.
The driver jumped out, ran to the back of his car, and wailed. His distress was so great that the cop was moved to ease up on him a bit.
“Aw, come now,” he said, “you don’t have to take it so hard. It isn’t that serious.”
“It isn’t?” cried the motorist. “What happened to my boat and trailer?”