Left Coaster : "Where do you see the nation in 20 years?"
I hate to think about that question, let alone attempt to answer it.
Under Mandela, there seemed to be a chance in SA for the future but Mbeki is a completely different kettle-of-fish. In particular he, and his administration, have shown themselves to be incompetent and racist in the extreme, much like Mugage, to the North. Unfortunately, to remove him will be no simple matter because he has surrounded himself with stooges and yes-men. For this reason, I can envisage a coup or uprising of some sort as inevitable if the country is to return to some kind of scenario in which economic growth is possible.
Speaking as a white, who is now under racial pressure from an intensely pro-black government, I see the AIDS epidemic as one of the few rays of light on the dark horizon. By removing pressure of millions of unemployed on the diminishing resources, and also by undermining the power base of the ANC, I see AIDS as my friend. Awful but true. Don't they say the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
If the AIDS epidemic is to run its full course, millions will die in the years to come. The disease, of course, will involve all population groups but mainly blacks. Accordingly, demographically, the population structure in a generation's time could look very different from what it is now. I anticipate South Africa will then be a predominantly Asian country after the immigration of many Indian and Chinese people.
In fact, that is my view for Africa as a whole where in 30-50 years time, as result of diseases like AIDS, malaria, TB, etc, etc, wars, malnutrition and complete destruction of infrastructure, that Africa will no longer be a continent for Africans but for the people of Asia. Historically, much of East Africa (even Zimbabwe) was colonized by Arabs and Indians in years gone by. That situation could return.
It seems crazy to stay here! I tell that to my wife every day and she says she's not leaving. So, there you have it --- when the boss speaks I have to listen. |
