Spugsy

yeah I do understand pet, I just don;t know who she is, I'm sure she was amazing and will be missed.

Spugsy

(by the way did you ask your husband for an example of who we'd know and he said bobby robson??)

Charismatic

It's really bad mate .

A lot of people in cities live in gated communities, private police forces are employed for protection because there has been such a breakdown in government services and a lot of the people that have the oppertunity are leaving. It's not just black v.s. white any more, foreigners and different African tribes are becoming targets, a increasing sense of xenophobia is setting in among the disillusioned poor.

To put it in statistics:
Over 50,000 raped reported and almost 20,000 people killed last year (SAPS annual report) in a population of about 45 million.

Even Wikipedia lists it as the "Rape capital of the world".

It should have been so easy in South Africa with abundant natural resources, mineral rich, well run agricultural sector and a developed manufacturing sector producing a vast array of goods. It's just falling apart .

ETA: Good bit here on it from Al-Jazeera:

Inselaffen

its heading the same way Zimbabwe has gone. the skilled and educated are leaving in droves.

and now with Zuma coming into power it can only get worse.

Darkwan

Mariam Makeba was a great singer. One who will always make Africa proud.....

She will be greatly missed.

South Africa created and is facing the consequences of its actions. What do you expect of a country where 80% of the population were constantly maltreated and had no rights? After 45 years of inferior education, no jobs, no rights, etc, what did white South Africans expect? Abolish Apartheid and live happily ever after?

Inselaffen

it is more the problem of corrupt ineffective leaders. they can't always blame everything on white South Africans. look at pretty much every other African country thats had own rule for the past 45 years and you see the same story.

Darkwan

I know all about the ineffective, corrupt leaders on the African continent however there's more to it.

With GB, France and US trying to play god in these nations, funding their puppets to get in and stay in power, threatening them with no economic aid and unfavourable trade deals if the nations don't play ball, there will always be problems on the continent.

In SA's case you really didn't expect 80% of the population to vote for the same people who enslaved them for 45 years. It will take generations to get over their pain and bitterness. It might be too late. In my opinion the nice, safe, pretty SA we all knew was maintained on a false balance (to the benefit of one race). It's quite natural for the scale to tip the other way when whatever propped the balance is removed.

alfrombarking

you cant be serious

but then again each to his/her own

Spugsy

why can't she be serious? Do you expect people to know every singer in the world?

The Dean

Sorry Spugsy, but Mama Africa was famous.............

Still I'm sure Blue Cat wasn't trying to offend anyone - it was my original post and I wasn't offended.

Surprised, yes. Offended, no.

Spugsy

can't say I know many African singers at all to be honest.

Blue Cat

sorry I didn't know who she was, and I used to live in south africa so I should be doubly ashamed

Roadking

No milk for you tonight!

Blue Cat

cats don't drink milk

Roadking

OK then, no gin for you tonight...