Steemit Engagement Challenge | S7W4 | A Meeting with The President
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South Africa, home of the rainbow nation.
Meet Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, leader of the ANC (African National Congress Party), anti-apartheid activist, a labor activist and president of a new trade union (National Union of Mineworkers, formidable businessman, and now the 5th democratic President of South Africa since 2019.
When you look at his resume you would think that he ticks all the boxes for a president. However, when you look at the headlines of newspapers and television channels you form a completely different picture.
➤ Government is considering declaring SA’s rolling blackouts a National State of Disaster, says Ramaphosa
➤ February petrol price hike could push more than half of South Africans below the poverty line
➤ New Joburg city management moves to stop corruption investigations - but then backtracks
➤ SA wants a government free from 'internal wrangling, corruption' of political parties
➤ Escalating load shedding could get in the way of Gauteng water recovery
➤ African countries score low in 2022 corruption perception index - report
BREAKING NEWS LIVE | Ten murdered in mass shootings in Eastern Cape
➤ DA opposes SA's R1bn sponsorship deal 'lunacy' and will send a delegation to Tottenham to get answers
➤ 7 Teachers have to teach more than 600 pupils at Inanda school, the governing body says
These are headlines taken from two of South Africa’s leading news websites, News24.co.za, and IOL.co.za just for the last 24 hours.
According to a public survey that was conducted in 2021 three common issues stood out which were not a surprise to South Africans, corruption, crime, and unemployment.
For me, there are far more than these three issues. Basic needs are a MUST for citizens of a country. It is an obligation of leaders to provide food, water, education, health care, and housing.
If I had to meet with President Ramaphosa I can assure you that a day will be too short.
For a start I would like to sit him down in front of a television and make him watch the news headlines, programs like Carte Blanche and Political Currency with Tim Modise as it is clear that he is either not watching the news or he is watching series like the soapy Uzalo, Idols SA, or The Blacklist.
Or maybe it is that his television is showing different channels than ours as I cannot see how you can miss hospital staff complaining as 36,000+ patients are waiting to undergo operations in governing hospitals, images of sewerage running in streets where people are living, and only 16% out of 257 municipalities receiving clean audits.
Mr. President, I would like to discuss the following issues with you;
- National State of Disaster due to loadshedding
- Drive the need for growth
- Collapsing of infrastructure
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Should I rather say, blackouts as you refer to in some of your speeches?
In the end, it doesn’t matter what we call it, you and I are well aware of the fact that more than 100 consecutive days with power cuts are unacceptable. As it is, it is projected that South Africa’s GDP growth is going to be 1.1% which is extremely low.
Getting investments in a situation like this is almost impossible. Going into stage 7 will result in 12 to 15 hours without electricity. This can only harm the economy even more. It might even bring it to hold.
Declaring South Africa a National State of Disaster will not be the solution. I am of believe that you will only cripple the economy and create more opportunities for corruption.
I wrote a post about “enough is enough” the other day. Well, the time has come for you to say “Enough is enough”.
- Fire those who cannot do the job and that includes your ministers
- Get help from experts, those who got it right in previous years and forget about the color of the skin
- Lock them away! I am referring to those who are stealing the cables and sabotaging power stations. Put them in jail and publish their faces all over National television and social media platforms so that South Africans can see who they are. It is only by example that this can be stopped
- Stop looking at ways of renewable energy. Implement it!
- Investigate self-generation possibilities which can be an interim solution
- Take action! Today and not tomorrow
Stand up and do what you have promised South Africans four years ago.
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South Africa and the households that form part of it are losing wealth. What this means is that South Africans are getting poorer.
“If households want to climb out of this rut and gain more wealth, their income must increase at least by more than the consumer price inflation (CPI) rate,” according to Johann van Tonder, researcher, and economist at Momentum
Mr. President, you are a well-known and successful businessman. You know what is needed and what it takes to show growth in a company. Why can we not do it for South Africa?
Growth is achievable with two things, investment, and spending.
- Deregulation is needed to get new businesses started and to get investors on board. Let go of rules that make it hard for entrepreneurs. Rather assist them with funding at a low-interest rate
- Cut taxes and those “never seen” tax rebates is recommended to enable consumers to open their pockets
- Reward businesses that reinvest in the community
- Be that Robin Hood, cut government spending and give it to the poor
- Train the youth to empower themselves as there will never be enough job opportunities for the millions. You need to implement skills development and training at school level and for those who excel, free university education
How on earth can your minister think of giving a R1 billion sponsorship deal to an English Premier team when we are experiencing an energy crisis which hampers growth?
After all, growth in the economy will allow the consumer to return to your McDonald's stores to buy two and not just one hamburger.
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Today, with my visit I present you with a book, “Making Sense of Troubled Times” by William Gumede and I want to urge you not to make a coffee table display of it but to put it on your desk where you will see it every day.
William Gumede is right, the little bit of infrastructure that is currently to be seen in South Africa is on the verge of collapsing.
Not only is it due to the lack of new infrastructure, and maintenance of existing infrastructure but also a result of tender corruption.
How can it be that pregnant women are laying on corridors and floors of hospitals? Why must children walk 20 kilometers to school each day on empty stomachs and old women wait in queues to collect a few liters of water each day?
Our roads are busy collapsing. The only safe place from potholes these days is on the toll roads.
Mismanagement, incompetence, and lack of knowledge are to be blame that state-owned entities like port and rail logistics no longer function as they should.
- Privatize institutions like our power and water supply, harbors, etc.
- Act against corruption with government contracts
- Maintain the infrastructure that is there. Public Works should start doing what they did years ago, check, check, and check
- Employ the correct people in the correct positions
- Let your cabinet go to state hospitals and not private hospitals and don’t keep their lights on
This will be my ending… Mr. President, I love my country and I am sure so do you. Don’t let it slip out of our hands. The rainbow nation is hungry for a president who acts and not just says.
Just do it!
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In invite the following Steemians to participate:
@dove11
@ishayachris
@smartlouis
Club100
Transfer to vesting 1,770.820 STEEM
Normal Transfer: 30.000 STEEM for contest prizes
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As always, you have shared another interesting and educative article with us friend. Your points and suggestions are all top notch and useful for the growth and development of any nation.
I love the part where you mentioned the two main factors of growth in a nation which includes investment and spending. I find this really truely and useful.
Thanks for sharing friend, and goodluck in this contest.
It is for me to say thank you for visiting my post.
I always like reading your comments.
How I wish I could have that meeting with our president... one of my dreams but yah, who am I? Just a normal citizen.
❤️:-)
Hello My friend @patjewell I completely agree with your assessment of the issues facing South Africa today. It is evident that President Ramaphosa is not doing enough to address the various issues plaguing the country such as corruption, crime and unemployment. As you mentioned, one of the most pressing issues is the national state of disaster due to loadshedding, which has a serious impact on the economy and growth prospects. As you've outlined, solutions such as firing incompetent ministers, investing in renewable energy, and putting an end to corruption and tender fraud need to be implemented soon in order to prevent further damage to the country.
Furthermore, another important issue that needs to be addressed is the collapsing of infrastructure. South Africa's infrastructure, from roads to hospitals, are severely lacking in maintenance, leading to hazardous conditions for citizens. Privatizing state-owned entities and increasing funding for infrastructure maintenance would be steps in the right direction.
Additionally, it is important that the right people are put in positions of responsibility to ensure that the necessary funds are allocated to the right places.
Overall, it is clear that South Africa needs to take drastic measures in order to address the various issues that are plaguing the country. Hopefully, President Ramaphosa will take the necessary steps to ensure that South Africa is able to move forward and create a better future for its citizens.
Regards, @fabiha
Thank you for this great comment!
I read a post earlier from another Steemian where she wrote that all we want is for our presidents to be honest and to communicate with us.
I am convinced that by doing this it will already bring about changes.
The president will be able to move mountains if only he can get the people on his side. We want bread, we don't want cake.
You have participated very well in this contest. You have some of the best suggestions and proposal that will help bring this country to the right direction. I appreciate your suggestions.
Yes, your suggestions are highly recommend. Thank you for sharing with us. I would be happy if you will visit my post and leave a relevant comment.
Best of luck for the contest.
Thank you for your visit and the nice commentary.
Suggestions.. how can we make our presidents listen to them?
No easy task. (•ิ‿•ิ)
PS: You had a visitor
A beautiful presentation by you and a perfect presentation of your president. Actually, I wanted to do this contest but the problem is that we don't have president as our head of the state but it's the Prime Minister that has all the powers.
I will find a way to write a post though. Thanks for invitation.
Ah! We also had a Prime Minister years ago.
In fact, I even wrote a letter to him as I so wanted to work at the stock exchange when I left school but woman were not allowed.
I am sure they won't mind if you set up a meeting with your Prime Minister instead President. Just do it!
Thanks for the visit!
I already did and I hope they listen to me as you suggested, but you know the politicians 🎉
https://steemit.com/hive-109435/@dove11/steemit-engagement-challenge-or-s7w4-or-a-meeting-with-the-president
Well written!!! 👏👏
Hola amiga leyendo tu publicación veo que tienes los mismos problemas que hay aca en venezuela con los servicios básicos que están de mal en peor, el racionamiento eléctrico, fallas y robos en los cables de telecomunicación, malas decisiones expropiando empresas que pasan a orden del estado y quedan en el abandono sin producir nada y sin hablar de la corrupción, dios quiera y todo se solucione por el bien de los sudafricanos saludos amiga
The more I read the posts of my fellow Steemians the more I see that the problems we are experiencing is to be seen all over the world which is so sad.
Thank you for the visit and the engagement!
You'r welcome dear
Your opinions are all valid ma, I just hope your suggestions comes to reality. That picture of why not now is cool😉.
Thanks for the invite
Unfortunately the president will not listen to me... if only I could get to him.
Maybe that should be the next contest. How can you get to your president (•ิ‿•ิ)
Hello @patjewell, I am sorry to read so many problems reflected there, also very common in my country and I understand perfectly your statements. Corruption is a cancer that must be removed from government management, when you see a president of the country that does not act as you expect it is because he is part of that evil. There is a long way to go in education and in the teaching of values that allow us to choose our rulers more consciously. These are serious problems of basic assistance such as lack of water, electricity, food and education. I hope Mr. Ramaphosa will take appropriate action so that he saves some of his poor reputation, omission or inaction is a crime. Thank you for sharing.
There is one thing that stops our president from acting and it is called "politics".
If you take politics out he will for sure act and we will have the result but how on earth does one convince him to do that?
PS: Thanks for the visit and the engagement
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