Two Bits – 18 March 2016

Racism is affecting everyone in South Africa. It has dominated headlines in recent months.
The African Racism Network of South Africa (ARNSA), the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Foundation have combined forces to campaign against racism and have initiated various events during Anti-Racism Week, celebrated this week.
The idea is to create a broader public awareness of racism and how it affects individuals and how good practices can prevent, reduce and eradicate it in society.
The first Anti-Racism Week (March 14 to 21) will raise awareness of anti-racism and bring together like-minded individuals who can influence their communities. According to the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation, the different race groups believe that race relations have worsened since 1994 with 59,8 per cent of blacks, 67 per cent of whites, 63,1 per cent of Indians and 63,1 per cent of coloureds agreeing with the statement. But, 71 per cent said a united SA was desirable and 64,6 per cent said it was possible to achieve.
The North Coast Courier, together with its sister publications in the Caxton Local Newspaper group, has committed to spread a message of anti-racism and will cover various topics on the issue in coming weeks.
Follow the #TakeOnRacism and feel free to interact with the newspapers and online platforms if you can contribute to a better society.
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There is no denying that the degree of difficulty of doing business has stepped up a notch in 2016.
The Dolphin Coast long existed in a ‘bubble’ where, because of the long period of growth we have been fortunate to experience, the local economy has been a little better off than most of the rest of the country.
The cost of living has skyrocketed within just the last six months and we have noticed the closures of a number of shops and insolvencies.
Curiously, the property developers have been talking up a storm of late. Not long ago the Elan group re-launched the Blythedale Coastal Estate, and Tongaat Hulett and others have been launching new developments in Sibaya alongside Umdloti. Apparently the Dubai-based IFA group are about to  launch the massive Zimbali Lakes extension.
So, the property guys are optimistic that a turnaround is on the cards and when that happens, the local economy will benefit.
However, we know that it is darkest  before dawn. It is being reported in the financial press that the ratings agency, Moody’s, is considering a downgrade of 11 regional and local municipalities across the country, including KwaDukuza municipality.
The bottom line is that it will cost council more to borrow money to fund expansion. We ratepayers will have to pay the interest bill.
Add to this the weak rand and the possibility that the whole country might be downgraded, you can see that a vicious circle starts to form. The downgrade makes the cost of capital more expensive, this in turn puts pressure on the economy, potentially slowing growth and increasing inflation, which we have already seen starting to bite.
On the flip side, if we were to see positive growth, we could hope for a reduction in unemployment and an increase in the disposable income of the middle class. This in turn means that there would be increased earnings in both companies and individuals, and as such improved revenue from the tax base, which assists in servicing the interest bill and helps to stimulate further economic growth.
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Finance minister Pravin Gordhan made an impassioned plea to government departments to cut back on unnecessary spending. Durban council wasn’t listening, apparently.
They’re spending R3.6 million to bring American rapper Nicky Minaj out here for a show. I don’t know her music so I looked her up on the Net. Man, she’s got a big butt and big hooters but the real value is in the lyrics. Here’s a sample:
You a stupid hoe, you a you a stupid hoe
You a stupid hoe, you a you a stupid hoe
You a stupid hoe, you a you a stupid hoe
You a stupid hoe, yeah you a you a stupid hoe
If you cute, then your crew can roll
If you sexy, eat my cucka roll
Put ya cape on, you a super hoe
Twenty twelve, I’m at the super bowl
Stupid hoes is my enemy, stupid hoes is so wack
Stupid ho shoulda befriended me then she coulda prolly came back
Such depth. Such feeling. Unfortunately that is all I can print in a family newspaper, but you can see the value right there.
Compare the above to an old classic I heard on the radio the other morning, by Mike & the Mechanics:
I wasn’t there that morning
When my Father passed away
I didn’t get to tell him
All the things I had to say
I think I caught his spirit
Later that same year
I’m sure I heard his echo
In my baby’s new born tears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years
The joke on Durban is that Cape Town and Jo’burg aren’t paying Minaj a cent to appear in their cities, which is her real value.
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We have a strange custom in our office. The food has names here. Yesterday for example I got a sandwich out of the fridge and its name was “Michael”.