Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
Divorce, Maintenance, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence
Politicians in South Africa are very lucky that they are not, to a large extent, judged by the population on service delivery. They should be judged on service delivery, just like private businesses are, and should face complaints on a daily basis about things that are not working, or services not being delivered.
The fact that so many people still live in shacks in South Africa is unacceptable. Even worse, numbers of them still do not have access to clean running water, electricity or even basic functioning toilets. It is no wonder that we are seeing more and more service delivery protests, and they are not going to go away if the current pathetic delivery of services continues. 20 years into the new South Africa there have been many accomplishments, and much of the government can be proud of, but it is terribly sad that conditions are so bad for so many people that there are so many service delivery protests.
Our money is spent on different things. Taxpayers’ funds are spent on building the President a glamorous house complete with his swimming pool which is not a swimming pool but is there to extinguish fires and all the other absolute bull we are told. R200 million could have gone a long way towards providing some towns with water and toilet facilities, not to mention how many RDP type houses that it could buy. That is just one example of wasted expenditure – where the money that we work hard for and are taxed on, is spent on absolute nonsense and does not get to the people who actually need it. Those people are becoming more and more militant, to the extent that instead of trying to resolve their problems, we use the police to suppress them and of course every now and then they have to shoot a few protestors. It is a very dangerous recipe and it does not bode well for our country. There are people who protest and have reason to do so, like those who do not have basic services in their area, and we are about to be subjected, during the strike season, to the protest of people who really don’t have a basis to protest because they do have services, they do have jobs and they should feel free to rather give up their job and let a needy person take it over than damage our economy with these ridiculous strikes we see every year.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Thursday 06-Feb-14
Post a Comment
Comments
Tersia said:
on Monday 10-Feb-14 07:46 AM
I agree with what everyone has said here. I do believe that things will never really get any better, but only worse. Those of us who have clear water, a job, a house to live in will eventually start to live like to those that at the moment have nothing. This kind of suffering is going to spread all over. Its really sad to think that people don't learn their lesson with the government that they those, but if you don't want to learn then you must feel. Just a pity those of us who actually vote for the right government and want to vote for a change has to suffer as well at the end of the day.
Sarah said:
on Friday 07-Feb-14 03:05 PM
Election year is here again so promises will be made and nothing will happen. I understand the people are frustrated but they keep voting for ANC. If they stop voting for ANC then maybe they will get the service they were promised in the first place
salomie said:
on Friday 07-Feb-14 02:07 PM
It is election year and promises will be made and be broken. Peoples basic needs are not being met and using violence is not going to solve the problem, not sure what will or if it will be solved, it will be interesting to see if there will be changes
Brenda said:
on Friday 07-Feb-14 10:47 AM
I am getting more and more disturbed with what i am hearing on the news and reading in the headlines. Our country can function so well if finances are managed correctly and distributed, as you say, to people and places that are actually really in need of it. The sad thing is that promises are always made but then never delivered, yet those who were fooled into believing that they would "get something out of the deal" still continue to vote for the government that cannot provide for them as promised. We are living in such desperate times where a promise made will be good enough for anyone who is desperate. Promise them a meal for one day and you will have their vote. That is how serious the poverty in our country has gotten. Their focus is on what can you give me right now, not on, where can i benefit in the future? If our people can just wake up and vote for the right government, they could have a nice meal to eat everyday. Unfortunately, people don't see "long run" they see "current situation" and will continue to vote for the current government, they will continue to complain about lack of service delivery and our country will just get worse and worse and eventually our economy will crash. Its a sad truth, but with the way things are going now, one must be prepared for the worse. I of course, still hold onto a hope that things will change.... and i do believe, that nothing is impossible. God Bless South Africa!
Brenda said:
on Friday 07-Feb-14 10:47 AM
I am getting more and more disturbed with what i am hearing on the news and reading in the headlines. Our country can function so well if finances are managed correctly and distributed, as you say, to people and places that are actually really in need of it. The sad thing is that promises are always made but then never delivered, yet those who were fooled into believing that they would "get something out of the deal" still continue to vote for the government that cannot provide for them as promised. We are living in such desperate times where a promise made will be good enough for anyone who is desperate. Promise them a meal for one day and you will have their vote. That is how serious the poverty in our country has gotten. Their focus is on what can you give me right now, not on, where can i benefit in the future? If our people can just wake up and vote for the right government, they could have a nice meal to eat everyday. Unfortunately, people don't see "long run" they see "current situation" and will continue to vote for the current government, they will continue to complain about lack of service delivery and our country will just get worse and worse and eventually our economy will crash. Its a sad truth, but with the way things are going now, one must be prepared for the worse. I of course, still hold onto a hope that things will change.... and i do believe, that nothing is impossible. God Bless South Africa!
Brenda said:
on Friday 07-Feb-14 10:46 AM
I am getting more and more disturbed with what i am hearing on the news and reading in the headlines. Our country can function so well if finances are managed correctly and distributed, as you say, to people and places that are actually really in need of it. The sad thing is that promises are always made but then never delivered, yet those who were fooled into believing that they would "get something out of the deal" still continue to vote for the government that cannot provide for them as promised. We are living in such desperate times where a promise made will be good enough for anyone who is desperate. Promise them a meal for one day and you will have their vote. That is how serious the poverty in our country has gotten. Their focus is on what can you give me right now, not on, where can i benefit in the future? If our people can just wake up and vote for the right government, they could have a nice meal to eat everyday. Unfortunately, people don't see "long run" they see "current situation" and will continue to vote for the current government, they will continue to complain about lack of service delivery and our country will just get worse and worse and eventually our economy will crash. Its a sad truth, but with the way things are going now, one must be prepared for the worse. I of course, still hold onto a hope that things will change.... and i do believe, that nothing is impossible. God Bless South Africa!
Brenda said:
on Friday 07-Feb-14 10:46 AM
I am getting more and more disturbed with what i am hearing on the news and reading in the headlines. Our country can function so well if finances are managed correctly and distributed, as you say, to people and places that are actually really in need of it. The sad thing is that promises are always made but then never delivered, yet those who were fooled into believing that they would "get something out of the deal" still continue to vote for the government that cannot provide for them as promised. We are living in such desperate times where a promise made will be good enough for anyone who is desperate. Promise them a meal for one day and you will have their vote. That is how serious the poverty in our country has gotten. Their focus is on what can you give me right now, not on, where can i benefit in the future? If our people can just wake up and vote for the right government, they could have a nice meal to eat everyday. Unfortunately, people don't see "long run" they see "current situation" and will continue to vote for the current government, they will continue to complain about lack of service delivery and our country will just get worse and worse and eventually our economy will crash. Its a sad truth, but with the way things are going now, one must be prepared for the worse. I of course, still hold onto a hope that things will change.... and i do believe, that nothing is impossible. God Bless South Africa!
Yolandi C said:
on Friday 07-Feb-14 09:02 AM
I find it really sad that people show their dislike of the government and its lack of service delivery by burning down and destroying schools and libraries and in so doing putting their communities even further backwards. People should be showing their discontent at the polling station where they can actually make a change, and not by destroying and looting their rural home areas that the government could not care less about.
Juliet said:
on Thursday 06-Feb-14 04:03 PM
No one is going to change their vote. I have spoken to many ANC supporters, asked them about the kids getting raped, no toilets, no promises being delivered, and then asking who will they vote for, and their answer is......the ANC! It does not make one little bit of difference. They still believe it will get better and most of them have such fear of apartheid they will vote for ANC just to avoid any possibility of how it used to be.
Caron said:
on Thursday 06-Feb-14 03:16 PM
Couldn't have said it better than Liesl
Bianca R said:
on Thursday 06-Feb-14 11:47 AM
I must agree with Lourien on this one, the living conditions that some citizens are subjected to are absolutely disgusting, however this may be as a result of allowing a poor government of "leaders" to come into power and president our country. I do not believe that their method of showing they are dissatisfied is correct but at the end of the day, the government in power was voted in by the majority of the country and when they cannot deliver on promises or basic service of running water for instance, they must go!! Hopefully the disgusting and disappointing level of service that is being offered does not go unnoticed by the public and they remember the rubbish service when voting this year!
Joyce said:
on Thursday 06-Feb-14 11:40 AM
What I think is thinking very carefully before putting an x on a ballot paper is very important
Liesl said:
on Thursday 06-Feb-14 09:59 AM
You got what you wanted but don't want what you got! Stop complaining if you are one of the insistent ones that keep on voting for power hungry leaders who can only operate out of a victim chair with only one aim in mind and that is to keep feeding their gluttony for a luxurious lifestyle. One can debate this subject over and over. No matter what they are provided with i.e. new schools, new trains, toilets you name it. All of it is either broken, stoned or burnt down to the ground during the next temper tantrum. I am all for each and every person to be afforded a decent living with at least the basics in place but then look after and appreciate what you have, then you might find more people willing to help you for better when they can see you are responsible with that which they gave "for free" in the first place.
Melissa said:
on Thursday 06-Feb-14 09:55 AM
The government makes promises to people to build their RDP houses, and even now that we have a new election they are still without clean drinking water and electricity... Unfortunately people need to take drastic measures just to be seen or heard instead of voting for a better party, clearly the government is not looking after their best interest as they are finding better use for government coffers for their own benefits.
Lourien said:
on Thursday 06-Feb-14 09:36 AM
I do feel bad for all the people living in these harsh conditions, and informal settlements as they have no where else to go, But burning police stations and community halls is definitely not a way to improve communities or service deliveries as this will increasing government costs that we do not have. They should let their votes count in the elections.
Sorea said:
on Thursday 06-Feb-14 08:46 AM
David, maybe if the people started to vandalize the property belonging to the ruling party's cadres instead of the infrastructure there might be better and quicker service delivery. (Please note, this is NOT me telling people to do so ... sigh)
The only way that things will change, though, is if people decide that they have had enough of a president clearing out the national coffers to pay for his personal luxuries (wives included) and therefore having to "OK" the personal luxuries of his cadres as well, because he has to share the national wealth.
Lee-Ann said:
on Thursday 06-Feb-14 08:36 AM
Its really not fair on these people! All they are asking for is the very basics and they have the right to it! Their frustrations are leading to violent outbursts and I don't blame them at all. I hope that our people, for their own sake, vote wisely this year.
david said:
on Thursday 06-Feb-14 08:31 AM
with regards to Jade's comment: i am sure the president goes to bed exhausted every night - i imagine that 4 wives, having affairs with your friend's daughters, and maintaining 20 odd children is quite draining...
with regards to service delivery: it amazes me that people who complain about not receiving services choose to burn down clinics, municipality buildings, schools, police stations, libraries etc etc. How do you expect to receive services when you burn them down??? surely a better option to change your vote to a party which does deliver, than destroy infrastructure...
Kaylee said:
on Thursday 06-Feb-14 08:27 AM
Yet again, people should be thinking carefully who they are voting for in the elections, clearly the political party in charge isn't performing. Mind you, Cape Town has brilliant service delivery.
I really hope that people have registered to vote, this weekend being the last weekend to register.
Alexis said:
on Thursday 06-Feb-14 08:25 AM
After all - they are meant to be there looking after us. But they don't, they care for themselves and possibly if their attitude changed, this country could become what we all know it can be. Stop being greedy and actually help the people as you have promised. They are changing the name of another town which is costing too much and they could be using that for Schooling, Housing, benefiting the less fortunate. But all they care for is names - what does it matter really. Put that money to something that actually matters. Give us the service that we deserve
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
