Weekly Round Up - 22 July 2010

The Games South Africans Play

Its entirely up to you to decide whether South Africans are a bunch of walnuts, broccoli or mushrooms!!!

What good is it observing Nelson Mandela day when in the last week an old couple from the Kwa- Zulu Natal south coast was murdered and stuffed in the booth of their car,
when Kya Sands erupted in xenophobic violence with 16 people being attacked and calls for the army to be brought in,
farm-attackers set free by the court because of a botched investigation in Hartswater; a man in PE killed by robbers, his body, alongside his beaten up elderly parents, locked in a freezer; a toddler in KZN having his penis cut off and his tongue cut out, probably for muti, left for dead in KZN. Teachers abandoning the classrooms for the looming strike, this in the wake of the proud declaration that more than 9 000 KZN science teachers are unqualified to teach their subject, and presumably the highlight in the observances and reasons why we propagate the values of Madiba - we now hear that Zindzi Mandela was attacked in the evening of Mandela day in her driveway... Tsch Tsch Tsch!!!

Yes- South Africa is back and whatever your game- the sounds of the vuvuzela has been replaced with the rampant cries of fear, pain and loss from victims of violence and of course the gunfire of unlicensed firearms...

Well done to Louis Oosthuizen on his British Open victory - but more so, well done on his caddy Zack Rasego who managed to save his job after this victory. No strike action could have saved him, no muti, no BEE policy - it was just up to his skill and how he advised Louis that earned him in excess of R900K and the chance to keep his job... Rasego's example should be spoken of in this context in the media and perhaps the rest of the trade unions and their members in this country will realise that with a little hard work- the rewards will follow...

Lets hope that common sense breaches faster than that whale in Table Bay, when it breached onto the vessel Intrepid, and we can get back to being a dignified people in a country ruled by the values of a Madiba rather than the madmen who currently hold rein.

Peace!

08 July Weekly Roundup

The cries of despair from all around Germany could probably be heard in South Africa as a "psychic" octopus called Paul tipped Spain on Tuesday to beat Germany in the football World Cup semi-final. The eight-legged oracle who has successfully predicted all five of Germany's games in South Africa, carefully weighed up the two teams, before plumping for Spain, prompting anguished groans amongst many a German!!!

There was a moment when all of Germany thought that Paul may have been munching on some other kind of weed from Amsterdam instead of sea weed - but behold the oracle, it has spoken and pointed in eight directions!
Viva Espana! - Although an all European World Cup final on the African continent- it will be a deserved one for both teams who provided spectators amazing football.

Its been an unlikely time for South African media who's reporting seemingly has turned from specialist crime reporters to only the world cup! It is as if something is missing this past month- where are the reports of the cash heists, the rapes, the murders- all except for Jackie Selebi who is all likelihood will appeal his ruling and no bookie will give you odds that he will not receive the same treatment as Schabir Shaik...

Too many VIP's in Durban and the air traffic control at King Shaka Airport cannot cope with the number of aircraft's into the city on the last semi final day. Certainly not a good reflection for a city hoping to win the Olympic bid...


A few days ago we were treated to visuals of the great machine gun on the soccer pitch- proving yet again that he is as virile as a man half his age as he ran, dribbled, shot and fell... Yes, State President Jacob Zuma shed his suit for a soccer kit and well... danced his way in hope of being awarded the coveted title of FIFA 2010 World Cup- Player of the Year.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan is to scrutinise the purchase of World Cup tickets by government departments, public enterprises and municipalities. What good is that going to do as we will still have to pay for it in our increased rates/ electricity/ water...???
Paris Hilton was arrested in Port Elizabeth with a friend for smoking marijuana at a World Cup match. The charges against her were dropped... apparently after she promised to build a Hilton Hotel in the windy city and thanked the authorities for being also being the friendly city!

South Africa’s 800m women’s world champion Caster Semenya has said that she does not “love athletics” nor is she “very excited” about participating again. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say that I love athletics,” she said at Tukkies where she did a fitness test on Wednesday. “I love playing soccer. The main reason I participate in athletics is because I know I can run really fast and prefer individual sports above team sports. Ahem - whats wrong with this??? After that long 11 month wait for testing and test results- this is what we hear? I presume taking one for the team is certainly out of the question with Semenya!

Rumors of Xenphobic attacks after the World Cup, a new phishing scam that uses the logos of the Banking Association SA and the SA Revenue Service has been uncovered, a man shot in his home in Honeydew after disturbing intruders and a R230 000.00 diamond is stolen from the Jack Friedman jewelery store in Sandton City... Sounds like things are returning to normal in South Africa...

Lets wait for next week to see who goes on strike first...

Peace

The TRUE VUVUZELA Satisfaction!!!

I give up....!!!

Back to the Future

Today is the day that Marty McFly arrived in the future after hitting 88mph in a pimped out Delorean in 1985. The only question is, where is my hover skateboard?

Vuvuzela's - annoying people since 1660!

Vuvuzela's - annoying people since 1660!

28 May Weekly Roundup

FEEL IT... IT IS OVER!!!

Well for Bafana Bafana anyways! If there was going to be a loss to Uruguay I was hoping it would be no more than 1-0. Perhaps my expectations were too high as is my spirit for the World Cup - which mind you is mirrored by the rest of the nation. Massimo Busacca, the Swiss referee who officiated over Bafana’s loss to Uruguay has taken more flack than there were supporters left at Loftus before the final whistle was blown.

Quick to respond, the authorities want South Africans to continue supporting the WC. The focus seems to have turned away from the results of last nights match with France and Mexico where the Mexicans feasted with escargot in their enchiladas... This means that we are the first host nation in the history of the WC to be knocked out in the initial round!!! How very embarrassing!

Rumor has it that the BEE policy is being looked at within the national team. SAFA accepts no responsibility what so ever!

There is so much more to WC to talk about -
* Bafana Bafana finally admitted that they could not hear one another on the pitch after suffering hearing damage as a result of the Vuvuzelaaargh. * Security guards being paid a measly R190 for a 12 hour shift at the stadiums. Is that the price to pay for safety from terrorism at the World Cup? * There has not been much mention of the "PAY- AS- YOU- DRIVE"traffic fines which the tourists are forking out
- but FEEFA has embargoed this blog and further comment will result in international exposure of this blog as they have done for Bravaria.

Fortunately this blog is in GREEN and not ORANGE!

Big Up and thanks for the birthday wishes this week - much appreciated.

Peace

PS: Some people think that the Mexican wave is cooler than anything!!! Well, in Sowth Afreeka we have the Vuvuzela - the Mexican wave lasts only a few minutes... ear damage lasts a lifetime!!!

10 June Weekly Roundup

It was a calm relatively cool Wednesday. Parts of South Africa was enjoying the last of the sunny warmth as winter etched ever closer to our nose, toes and fingertips... The euphoria of the 2010 World Cup has for some prolonged the miserable cold.

And then as the hour struck 12, there was an explosion of noise... from Somerset to Sandton, every person was of of the impression that they were able to hold the blue notes like Miles Davis or Kenny G - trouble was that it was not a saxophone they were blowing into... It was the Vuvuzelaaaaargh!!!!

The latest is as per the pic on the left, Mr. Blatter wanting to add more to the FIFA coffers before he leaves SA in mid July. Apparently the Pay for Blow tax has a lot of employees in the worlds oldest profession very worked up!!!

Heres some interesting facts: In its annual financial report, published in March, FIFA said it had made a profit of 196 million dollars in 2009 and amassed 1.061 billion dollars in reserves. And then there is the matter of SARS not taxing FIFA on customs, duties and VAT - FIFA is blowing their horns straight to the bank!!!!

Having said that- I am delighted that the WC has taken place here on African soil! Think about it... in the 16 years of democracy- if the billions was not spent on improving infrastructure, just how many politicians and Tendrepreneurs pockets would it have lined?????

Tomorrow's opening match has overshadowed the Mrs. Zuma's bodyguard escapades, the Portugese journo's who were robbed this week or the price of fish!!! Not even Shakira's honest hips would put a damper on this proud moment...

Get ready as we celebrate the World Cup - the winning national team gets to hold the cup, but only FIFA will be drinking from it...

Peace