Das neue Südafrika

"Zehn Jahre nach Ende der Apartheid herrscht am Kap reichlich Optimismus. Die Statistik bestätigt da nur, was ohnehin augenfällig ist: Vielen der 46 Millionen Südafrikanern sitzen Geldbeutel und Kreditkarte recht locker".

Kauflust hat mit Optimismus gar nichts zu tun, die meisten die koennen wandern ab hier da es keine Zukunft gibt fuer deren Kinder sowie fast keine Sicherheit mehr. In den letzen 8 Jahren sind 500.000 Weisse ins Ausland,das sagt der Bericht den Ulfur reingestellt hat aber nicht.
Ein volle Flugzeug pro Tag zur Zeit sucht eine neue Zukunft wo anders.
Ich koennte mich immer aufregen wenn ich solche Berichte sehe die hier das Paradies darstellen.
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Lasst Euch nicht blenden von den News die sie Euch servieren ueber RSA . Was in Sandton (JHB) in den Shopping Centers ablaueft ist nicht die Realitaet und ein kleiner Spot wo man glaubt es ist sehr gut und schoen hier. In Johannesburg haben die Leute mehr Geld und geben mehr aus als sie verdienen. Das die Importe billiger werden davon sehe ich nichts,wieder so ein Schmarn in den Bericht.
Das faengt schon bei der Schokolade an, die wurde sogar teurer als frueher, die anderen berechnen nach alten Preisen und reden sich aus das sie die Preise auch nicht erhoeht haben so wie frueher, sowie die Inflation im Land.
Die meisten leben auf Pump und man lockt die Leute mit guenstigen Krediten. Plastic Card Society , fast jeder kriegt nun eine Karte zum Shoppen. Meine letzte Maid hat nun 20.000 Rand Schulden und ist verschwunden, macht nichts, die haut man dann auf die Preise,irgendeiner zahlt schon.
Hier in Cape Town gibt es Camps Bay z.B, da sitzen die ganzen Yuppies mit ihren teueren Autos beim Cafe und man glaubt man ist in Nizza jedoch mit selben Preisen.
Faehrt man uebern Berg sieht man wieder Blechhuetten und Leute die am Gehsteig schlafen und betteln.

Danke Edel Man, das Drogenproblem in der Stadt ist echt erschreckend,darueber will ich gar nicht schreiben wie die Nigerianische Mafia hier verteilt und die Polizei schaut zu wie sie die Stadt und Jugendlichen ohne Hoffnung vergiften.
Ich habe den besten Sicherheitspuffer so weit ich konnte geschaffen und bin immer auf der Hut hier nachdem es mich erwischt hat im Januar.

XAX

Erst wenn der Rand eine Macke bekommt steige ich wieder ein.

Mfg

XAX

Mugabe: 'People very happy'

19/09/2005 07:51

Cape Town - President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has implied in his most recent interview that Zimbabweans are not going hungry - they merely cannot eat their favourite foods all the time.

"The problem is the dependence on mealies," Mugabe said in New York in an interview with the AP news agency. "But that does not mean we do not have other food to eat.

"We have tons of potatoes, but the people aren't potato eaters. They have rice, but don't like it."

The price of potatoes in Zimbabwe is so high that most Zimbabweans cannot afford them.

Mugabe said the country's citizens were "very, very happy" - this despite international aid organisations' estimates that between four and 11.6 million people are facing starvation.

Collapse

"You describe our country as if it is a graveyard," Mugabe said when the journalist referred to the socio-economic collapse. Mugabe blamed "several years of drought" for Zimbabwe's problems.

He said government was ready to acquire a stake in all private mining activities in the country to ensure that all Zimbabweans benefited from the country's natural resources.

He said he expected all mining enterprises - including the multi-national Anglo American - to understand the need for this.

"What we plan to do is for the state to acquire an interest in the production of some of our minerals - gold, platinum, diamonds.

"We are behind countries such as Botswana and Namibia. We merely want to be partners. We are not doing anything out of the ordinary and it is common practice in many countries."

Mugabe said he had realised all his ambitions except for retirement.

Writing

He plans to step down as president in 2008 and to spend his time writing and farming. He said, however, that he would remain involved in politics until he died. "I cannot retire before the Almighty says it is enough."
Reuters said America was planning to introduce strict new travel sanctions, which would include restrictions on study visas, against the extended families of Mugabe and members of his government.

This step is seen as the latest attempt to isolate Mugabe and is a sign of America's growing impatience with Zimbabwe.

News24/Die Burger

Zustände hin oder her.....die Kursentwicklung meiner HARMONY Anteile in den letzten Tagen war schon beeindruckend.

Und das mit der gestohlenen Post gibts bei uns auch.....leider traurig aber wahr.
Habe mich gestern Abend mit einem Inder unterhalten....dieser fand den Wahlabend völlig normal...er sagte" so schaut das bei uns auch immer aus"....toll.....gleiche Zustanäde bei uns wie bei den Parlamentswahlen in Indien.

# Aladin,

Hallo Aladin, Deine Berichte sind immer sehr interssant,aber wann bekommt der Rand eine Macke? Da warten schon zuviele darauf und dann kommt eben immer das Gegenteil.Die letzten Tage wurde der Rand immer stärker oder die andern wschwächer, das kommt doch auch bestimmt davon das dedr Rand eben auch eine Rohstoffwährung ist oder wie siehst Du das.

gruß hpoth

Hallo Hpopth

Meine Antwort war heute ein Teilverkauf von RSA Aktien und sofort gewechselt in Dollar damit die Kriegskasse besser ausschaut.
Alle Laender mit Rohstoffen werden eine staerkere Waehrung haben als Euro vs Dollar , ich mag den Canada Dollar, der hat den Franken schon ueberholt und wird noch 1:1 mit den Dollar IMHO.

Wann der Rand faellt ? ...... ich weiss es nicht, es kann lange dauern ohne Chaos hier.

Servus

XAX

Der muss erst durch die 6.70 zum Dollar dann schau ich wieder auf RSA Aktien.

Zim: Steep bread price hike

22/09/2005 11:05

Harare - The price of bread has increased dramatically in Zimbabwe, worsening hardships for the poorest in society, a private newspaper reported on Thursday.
While the government last month set the price of bread at Z$7 500 (US 28c) per loaf, it is now selling for at least Z$137nbsp;000 (US 50c) a loaf, the Daily Mirror said after carrying out a survey in the capital Harare.

More sophisticated varieties of bread are selling for between Z$25 000 and Z$32 000 (US96c, $1.23) per loaf, the paper said.

"We have received reports of bread going up to Z$25 000. What we understand is that the price of bread is controlled and it is illegal for bakeries to increase prices," Tonderai Mukeredzi, the public relations manager of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) told the paper.

Economic crisis

Zimbabwe is in the throes of economic crisis, with inflation at over 265% and prices of commodities ratcheting up on a weekly basis.

Manufacturers in the country blame shortages of inputs and foreign currency for most of the price hikes.

The marketing manager of a bakery was quoted by the paper as saying bakers are having to source diesel, which is used to fire their ovens, on the black market for prices way above the official selling price.

Last month bakers said bread would have to retail at Z$12 000 a loaf to earn a 20% return. But the authorities were said to be against a hike of that margin. Previously bread sold at Z$4 500 (US 17c) a loaf. - Sapa-dpa

News24/SAPA

Corruption in ANC bothers Mbeki

23/09/2005 13:20

Cape Town - Corruption was not unique to South Africa and was a global cancer, but there was a disturbing phenomenon that it was manifesting itself in the ruling movement of the country, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday.
In his ANC Today internet column - noting the 25th anniversary of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) - Mbeki said: "All of us must accept that corruption is a global cancer. Corruption in our country is driven by the same imperatives that drive corruption in all other countries.

"Particularly disturbing ... is that it is manifesting itself within our movement, of some people abusing membership of the organisations of the people, including the (ruling) African National Congress, as a stepladder to positions of power, power they would then use corruptly to accumulate riches for themselves, rather than serve the people of South Africa."

Mbeki noted that international businessman George Soros had said that one of the great defects of the global capitalist system was that it had allowed the market mechanism and the profit motive to penetrate into fields of activity where they did not properly belong - "the promotion of self-interest to a moral principle has corrupted politics and the failure of politics has become the strongest argument in favour of giving markets an even freer reign."

He continued to quote Soros as saying: "Unsure of what they stand for, people increasingly rely on money as a criterion of value. What is more expensive is considered better.

"The value of a work of art can be judged by prices it fetches. People deserve respect and admiration because they are rich. What used to be a medium of exchange has usurped the place of fundamental values, reversing the relationship postulated in economic theory.

"What used to be professions have turned into businesses. The cult of success has replaced the belief in principles. Society has lost its anchor."

Mbeki commented: "All of us know that we are afflicted by the phenomenon of people who, while pretending to be comrades, are individuals driven by the same psychology and value system described by George Soros.

"These are our compatriots who have elevated self-interest to a moral principle, relying on money as a criterion of value."

He did indicate to whom he was referring.

But he said: "As we fight the pervasive cancer of corruption, which is representative of a society that has lost its anchor, we will continue to rely on our accountants to help our country and people to sustain the permanent struggle against corruption."

He expressed concern about the image of accountants being sullied by the Masterbond scandal in South Africa and by WorldCom and Enron in the United States - but acknowledged that those accountants were not necessarily representative of the entire industry.

News24/I-Net Bridge (Business)

Hospital visit shocks Manto

23/09/2005 13:11

Johannesburg - Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital has been given priority in the government's hospital revitalisation programme after Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said she would hesitate to seek treatment there.
On a tour of the hospital on Thursday, Tshabalala-Msimang and her health MEC saw how patients at the Soweto hospital had no bed linen and were given ragged blankets. Many patients in various wards slept on stretchers without linen.

The aim of the visit was to get first-hand information on the quality of service by interacting with health workers, patients and the public.

Hospitals visited by the minister included the Mohlakeng clinic on the West Rand, Mofolo community health centre in Soweto and Johannesburg Hospital.

"I always tell people to use public hospitals, but from what I saw today I would also hesitate to come here (Baragwanath)," she said.

"It was shocking to see all those sick people standing in long queues. Why would we allow our people to suffer like that," she said.

Health ministry spokesperson Sibani Mngadi said on Friday problems identified at the hospital included infrastructure, the condition of buildings and poor management.

"A good example of inappropriate conduct of management was of linen. People complained that they had no linen but it was being stored in a storeroom."

Mngadi said Tshabalala-Msimang met her health MEC after the tour.

"It was agreed that Bara would be prioritised in the government's hospital revitalisation programme," he said.

Tshabalala-Msimang was waiting for a report on problems at Baragwanath, the biggest hospital in the southern hemisphere. It was due next week. Once it had been examined, she and the MEC would hold a follow up meeting.

"The minister regularly used public hospitals. She has been admitted to Johannesburg General and she uses Pretoria Academic. She encourages people to use public hospitals. But because of the problems at Baragwanath, she found it difficult to encourage people to go there."

News24/SAPA

Salsa in Venezuela, Toyi Toyi in RSA, glaubt bloss nicht hier ist alles sicher.

Nigerian militants give 'final warning' to oil firms

Lagos, Nigeria

23 September 2005 11:03

Nigerian separatist militants issued what they described as a final warning to international oil giants on Friday demanding they evacuate installations in the Niger Delta within two days or face armed attack.

"We will kill every iota of oil operations in the Niger Delta. We will destroy anything and everything. We will challenge our enemies in our territory and we shall feed them to the vultures," said the statement from the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF).

The group, which on Thursday sent 120 armed guerrillas to seize an oil plant operated by US giant Chevron, warned that if its leader Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari is not released from police custody within two days it will step up its action.

"In line with this, we herein order that all staff, property and operations in the Niger Delta be totally evacuated in the next 48 hours. Shell, Chevron, Mobil, Total and others should please take note. All of their installations will not be spared," the statement said.

"We will come after everything, living and not living. Failure to comply will result in death, grave sabotage and every other thinkable vice. We have lost our patience and our resilience stands to be tested," it added.

Asari was arrested on Tuesday in the oil city of Port Harcourt and has been remanded in police custody in the capital Abuja while the government prepares treason charges against him.

The Niger Delta is home to Africa's biggest oil industry, which exports 2,5-million barrels per day.

Oil firms have stepped up security precautions since Asari's arrest and military units have been deployed to the streets of Port Harcourt and the waterways around the city. - AFP
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Circumcision 'to prevent HIV'

24/09/2005 21:04

Cape Town - A leading South African Aids expert on Saturday advocated male circumcision as the best available "vaccine" against the virus in his country, where an estimated six million people are infected and more than 600 people die every day.
Francois Venter told a congress of health activists in the Treatment Action Campaign that a recent survey in the Soweto township indicated that circumcised men were 65% less likely to contract Aids than those who had not been circumcised.

"We dream of a vaccine which has this efficacy," said Venter, clinical director of the Reproductive Health and HIV Research at the University of Witwatersrand. "The results are phenomenal."

He urged the Treatment Action Campaign to consider promoting circumcision as a vital prevention tool, given that existing methods were failing to slow the spread of the pandemic.

Some traditional communities in South Africa practice circumcision, but there are calls for tighter medical controls to limit health risks from blunt and contaminated instruments.

"We don't want our men to go to the chop shop but have medical circumcision," said Aids activist leader Zackie Achmat, who said the congress - which meets every two years - would debate whether to encourage mass circumcision.

Achmat, who is HIV positive, said much more needed to be done on prevention. He said that even though government distribution of condoms increased from one million in 1994 to 40 million in 2004, this still only amounted to 35 condoms per sexually active male per year.

'We are dying. We are still dying'

Achmat lambasted the government's record on treatment. An estimated 76 000 people are currently receiving antiretroviral therapy through the public health sector, compared to the 500 000 who need it.

The World Health Organisation has singled out slow progress in South Africa as one of the main reasons why it will likely miss its target of putting three million people worldwide on therapy by the end of this year.

"We are dying. We are still dying," he said.

Achmat has for years made virulent attacks against the government for doing too little too late against the Aids epidemic. In a sign of the mutual antagonism, health ministry officials refused invitations to attend the congress.

The Soweto study, was conducted by French researchers between 2002 and 2005 with more than 3 000 healthy, sexually active males between 18 and 24. About half the volunteers were circumcised by medical professionals, and the rest remained uncircumcised.

All of the men received counselling on Aids prevention. But after 21 months, 51 members of the uncircumcised group had contracted HIV, the Aids virus, while only 18 members of the circumcised group got the disease.

The World Health Organisation and UNAids has given a cautious welcome to the results of the study, but says that more trials should be conducted before circumcision can be recommended as a preventive method.

News24/AP