Whistling Past The Graveyard?

[Red Leg]

I thought this was too important an article (testament?) to bury in the politics section. In our trips to South Africa, many do not realize how adept our outfitters and PHs are at shielding us from the accelerating self-destruction of the country. I remember more than a decade ago flying into Johannesburg seated next to a black South African woman who was associated with one of NGO's that seem to do little more than observe, sometimes even abet, the growing economic, social, and cultural catastrophe that is the modern African continent. When I mentioned some of the then obvious and somewhat frightening trends of post Mandela South Africa, she laughed and replied, "South Africa is too big to fail."

The perspective of a South African emigre's return to his homeland after a ten-year absence is sobering - and South Africa is failing.

SOUTH AFRICA AT WAR WITH ITSELF

Architect from Michigan, USA revisits his hometown of Cape Town and reflects on disturbing urban landscapes and its people still saddled with racism – but now in reverse By Michael Witk…

layoftheland.online

 

[R.M.C.]

Pretty crazy, thanks for sharing!!

 

[Hank2211]

Thanks for posting this Red Leg.

I tend to follow the South African news pretty regularly, and what's going in is truly sad. I had high hopes for President Ramaphosa, but things seem to be going downhill. I don't know if that's because he's cut from the same cloth as his predecessor or corruption is simply too entrenched to dislodge (I tend to think it's the latter), but candidly, it doesn't matter. The way forward is grim, and while some say that it may take a complete collapse for anything to change, I suggest that the Zimbabwean example would suggest that not even a total collapse can bring about real and meaningful change.

There is an old 'joke' (if you can call it that) that was told in Zimbabwe during the worst of Mugabe's mismanagement:

What did Zimbabweans use for light before they had candles?

Electricity.

Won't be long before you can say the same about South Africa.

 

[Rare Breed]

I thought this was too important an article (testament?) to bury in the politics section. In our trips to South Africa, many do not realize how adept our outfitters and PHs are at shielding us from the accelerating self-destruction of the country. I remember more than a decade ago flying into Johannesburg seated next to a black South African woman who was associated with one of NGO's that seem to do little more than observe, sometimes even abet, the growing economic, social, and cultural catastrophe that is the modern African continent. When I mentioned some of the then obvious and somewhat frightening trends of post Mandela South Africa, she laughed and replied, "South Africa is too big to fail."

The perspective of a South African emigre's return to his homeland after a ten-year absence is sobering - and South Africa is failing.

SOUTH AFRICA AT WAR WITH ITSELF

Architect from Michigan, USA revisits his hometown of Cape Town and reflects on disturbing urban landscapes and its people still saddled with racism – but now in reverse By Michael Witk…

layoftheland.online

wow!!! depressing! I think you are right...our outfitters hide this from us trying to shield us. I have found each of the outfitters I have hunted with are very proud of their country which is good to see but all of them have been honest about problems their country faces. thanks for sharing.

 

[Sue Tidwell]

I thought this was too important an article (testament?) to bury in the politics section. In our trips to South Africa, many do not realize how adept our outfitters and PHs are at shielding us from the accelerating self-destruction of the country. I remember more than a decade ago flying into Johannesburg seated next to a black South African woman who was associated with one of NGO's that seem to do little more than observe, sometimes even abet, the growing economic, social, and cultural catastrophe that is the modern African continent. When I mentioned some of the then obvious and somewhat frightening trends of post Mandela South Africa, she laughed and replied, "South Africa is too big to fail."

The perspective of a South African emigre's return to his homeland after a ten-year absence is sobering - and South Africa is failing.

SOUTH AFRICA AT WAR WITH ITSELF

Architect from Michigan, USA revisits his hometown of Cape Town and reflects on disturbing urban landscapes and its people still saddled with racism – but now in reverse By Michael Witk…

layoftheland.online

@Red Leg thank you for sharing this article…although it literally breaks my heart for so many reasons.

 

[Borderer]

Thanks for sharing. Very depressing reading. I found it very sad that most South Africans (of all races) I met last year were seriously thinking about emigrating. Such a pity to see so much potential going to waste.

 

[Doug3006]

Thanks for posting this excellent article @Red Leg. It is terribly depressing to see what conditions have become in South Africa. They and neighboring Zimbabwe were once the jewels in the crown of Africa. The situation in both countries is bad and getting worse. Zimbabwe may be further down the road, but the difference is only by degrees. I’m afraid there is no solution to this decline. The majority population was never, by experience nor training, prepared to run a modern western-style nation. Having resourceful and clever leaders is not the only thing that’s needed. In fact, we can see what the politically connected big thinkers have wrought in Africa! The most important component of a modern, pluralistic society is an educated people with some familiarity of working in a one-man-one-vote political system. None of the former colonies had any such populous. The outcome of the transition to majority-run systems is entirely predictable, and there’s very little to do to change it now.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

My first trip while waiting for my plane in Port Elizabeth Airport, I noticed a long line of ore cars parked below the lobby with some kind of gray stuff for cargo. "What's that?" My PH responded, "Coal ... covered with years of dust." What? He explained: when the black regime came to power the first thing the minister of energy did was send his cronies to the giant generating station we drove past on the edge of the city to strip the copper wire from the generators. Sold it for scrap and a fast buck. Coal destined for the plant was just left on a siding. For years. Well, that's what he told me anyway. Now people are rioting over blackouts in Port Elizabeth (so said my taxidermist a few weeks back).

My buddy and I had a couple hours to kill in Port Elizabeth before our return flight to Joberg so PH drove us downtown to a top shelf souvenir shop. First thing that caught my eye was how heavily fortified the shops were. Bars on the windows, boiler plate doors, etc. We pulled up to park at the curb. PH said he'd call for the manager to come to the door and unlock it. Unlock it? In the middle of the day? He said he would wait for us. "You're not coming in?" No, the guns are in the truck. "But there's a security guard standing right there." "Yeah. That's why I'm staying out here with the guns." It's an eye opener.

 

[meigsbucks]

Thanks Red Leg. Depressing as hell. I spoke briefly with a couple of RSA outfitters at the Columbus Outdoor show about the situation there. They made minimal disparaging remarks about the situation and went on to talk hunting.

 

[uplander01]

It’s very sad and disheartening how corrupt and criminal the world has become. IMO the only people that seem to be paying the price of suffering are the common folks, black or white.

 

[Areaonereal]

A great lesson to be learned for the USA….IF, anyone listens.

 

[WAB]

What a sad state of affairs. Racism is every bit as bad as it was under apartheid, only this time it comes with wholesale destruction of the very fabric of the nation.

 

[Vintageguy]

I would be curious of the opinion of someone living there. Problems were evident when I was there but it was a truly beautiful country and all I encountered were friendly. Social programs we have here are missing due to the economy and government to facilitate them which doesn’t help.
I do think it was hard to get much of a feel for the situation even though we were in towns and cities while there because our PH was understandably “on his toes” when we were out and about. I even suspect we had a guardian angel of sorts shadowing us also at times when we were on the road or in town, maybe not, but we did seem to encounter another PH in odd places while out.
I don’t think South Africa getting in bed with China is going to help them much though. China has a reputation for being helpful with infrastructure in a ploy for “soft” power but then tend to leave it as far as maintenance goes. The railway in Tanzania is a good example. Also, our morons here continue pushing the world into another Cold War that isn’t going to help either.
There seems to be a general rot going on globally right now and a worldwide lack of sensible and capable leadership facilitating it.
I tell friends that if they can go on safari now to do so because who knows what the world environment will be in another year or two.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Sounds like Chicago and other major cities during Prohibition and some parts of New York city and north New Jersey. Criminals basically ran the show with corrupt politicians being paid to look the other way and municipal contracts going to mob related enterprises. Seems the criminals aren't as smart in South Africa. At some point there won't be anything remaining to be stolen. At that point I wouldn't want to be around to see the end result.

 

[Sarg]

Well I read that article, can't say he is lying as he isn't but I do think he is over stating a lot of it, all based on fact yes & going on for sure.

I haven't been way down South but up where I operate it isn't that bad, cool place & we have a great life style, "Load Shedding" is terrible for sure & seems worse when you can see just out of town two huge power plants, one constructed in the last few years !

It would be hard to replicate the life style we have any where else in the world, bar Australia or maybe some where in the US, but I love it there (And the people both Black & White) myself & I'm looking at buying a small farm on the Limpopo.

Most of the stuff that he wrote up can be found all over the world, SA is still one of the Best country's in Africa at this time !

 

[steve white]

Sickening...but predictable.

 

[Gemsbok45]

Having lived in Zim pre and post land reform,I met a lot of South Africans. Dutch and English.If you read about the Voortrekker and the journeys across The Namib desert. it’s not like it just got tough last week. My bet is on “the Boer” figuring it out. Sure like most of Africa SA is deteriorating.It will hit a low and then life will go on! Make a plan!

 

[Tucketed]

@Sarg, not sure. My sons and I of course experienced the load sharing, experienced the train tracks stolen so the grain elevators no longer work. We were stopped twice by police looking for money for tonight’s dinner. The large ranch was poached regularly by kids from the nearest village with nothing the landowner could do, catch and release can’t even shoot their dogs trailing their game. I can say we had a wonderful hunt and trip. Beautiful land, history and people but the corruption is so blatant you know that this will end badly. I have been lucky with my career to be able to travel to over 60 countries and experience the world around not as a tourist and it was great to hunt and have my grown sons experience SA and see and discuss the changes this beautiful country has/is experiencing. Unfortunately we have the example of how things happen, Rhodesia. Corruption is the root of almost all evil in this world.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

It is a lovely place and the people are generally wonderful (black or white). I enjoy visiting and hunting there much more than my homeland Montana. It's being gobbled up by civilization which is no less destructive than African corruption. The current situation in RSA needs guidance for sure. And I really doubt very much that it could come from within. Yes, Zimbabwe next door is a great example of how not to do things. And there are others: Liberia, Mozambique, and now Sudan. The cataclysmic failures across the continent don't seem to have made much of an impression on the governing bodies in South Africa. Very sad.

 

[cagkt3]

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