Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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I am one of those who were lucky enough to spend my late teens and early twenties going through the dramatic changes in South Africa, day by day. I love to try and be positive, but I must say that there is so much negativity at the moment that one cannot help but feel that South Africa needs a broader group of people to start demanding change.
Last week’s Financial Mail had two articles which made very interesting, but worrying reading. One was by Alec Hogg, where he relays a discussion that he had with the former CEO of the JSE, Russell Loubser. He said Russell Loubser described what is currently happening in South Africa as a malady called drift. Drift is a slow movement away from the place you wanted to be, to an unintended destination, according to Alec’s article. As Alec goes on to point out, our unemployment crisis has got worse because of an inability to challenge destructive laws – the very same laws that employees love to defend in blogs and comments – and that often attract comments from people who have been dismissed from their companies.
The very same laws that are almost unprecedented in any other country in the world, and the very same laws and collective action that have now led to the managing director of BMW advising that a new model of BMW, which was to be produced in Pretoria for the entire world, will no longer be produced in South Africa. BMW decided, as a result of the some of the strikes they endured last year, and the attitude of the Trade Unions, that this project would be better suited to another country. Thousands of jobs that could have been created here are now lost forever.
The reaction was immediate – the Trade Unions criticised BMW saying it was blackmail! Unfortunately, they forget that there was no “or” to the statement – BMW never said if this changes. or that changes, they will stay. They simply, and sadly, reported that they cannot make the plant in South Africa and as some pointed out on financial radio shows, they should actually be applauded for at least telling us the truth – how many companies, rather than upset politicians, simply don’t announce those decisions at all! The sad truth is, as a country, we are drifting and we are sliding further and further away from the ideals of 1994, as is our economy, as is unemployment and as is our currency and until the people stand up and say enough, and implement the kinds of changes that businesses want, as well as tackle the corruption and other decay, we will continue to drift.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Tuesday 15-Oct-13
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Comments
Melissa said:
on Monday 21-Oct-13 09:27 AM
There is nothing to be positive about politics as our own government is so full of corruption in any case.
Ursulene said:
on Friday 18-Oct-13 07:05 AM
We certainly do not want to loose foreign investment as this will not benefit anyone in the country. At the same time I do sympathise with workers asking for a decent living wage. There was a positive turn of events recently in this saga, Mercedes Benz announced that they will be investing a huge amount of money into the countries motor industry. Once again the market regulates itself.
Cindy said:
on Thursday 17-Oct-13 09:54 AM
Politics! Politics! No one will ever be happy.
Alexis said:
on Tuesday 15-Oct-13 09:51 AM
This is a hard one to comment on - politics! Everybody has their own veiws and everyone has their own opinions. People are NOT happy - yet they do nothing about it. It is very sad that we live in such a country who cares for nothing but themselves. If I were BMW - I would do the same - sorry to say. Everyday there is a new issue, everyday someone is striking. People need to wake up and do something!!! This is such a beautiful country and we are letting it go to waste
Liesl said:
on Tuesday 15-Oct-13 09:17 AM
I am so fed-up with how things have been going and I'm not even a business owner. This country is busy sabotaging its own future and I really wish that a strong force of people can rise up and just command enough is enough!
Lucretia said:
on Tuesday 15-Oct-13 09:04 AM
Information in articles like this annoy me beyond annoyance because, we all know what needs to be done and nobody is doing anything about it. I am tired of every time someone wants to make a difference they are accused of racism. The current government is killing our country and those who don't want to see its demise are being accused of racism. People of ALL walks of life need to put this word aside and start seeing things for what they are and THEN change will be more appealing to all.
Juliet said:
on Tuesday 15-Oct-13 08:57 AM
And I think it is a joke how people think once they have a job, they can now sit around and socialize and get paid for it. And then when they are bored they simply don't come back to work. Absolute lack of work ethic in SA in comparison to other countries where even after 5 years at a company employees still try to impress, to improve, to get a promotion. Here everything is destructive, and opportunistic
Juliet said:
on Tuesday 15-Oct-13 08:55 AM
Like they said on Jacaranda FM this morning, some one in a coma would be doing a better job at running this country than it's current president. Even the radio DJs cannot keep quiet anymore about this disaster. We are balancing and it is only a matter of time when it all collapses. You cannot just keep blaming Apartheid instead of facing reality and taking action!!!
Benita said:
on Tuesday 15-Oct-13 08:51 AM
The problem is that all social and economic impacts are linked, ovepopulation, poverty, crime, polution etc are all linked and as one goes down they all will. Opening our borders was the worst mistake SA has ever made, especially consedering that our economic and socials status was not great to start off with.
Angelique said:
on Tuesday 15-Oct-13 08:13 AM
I agree with Sorea, maybe it is a good thing and perhaps other investors/companies will do the same. Perhaps then trade unions and other will see what it will do to our country. We will then be far from where we started but if that what will open peoples eyes then it should be done. It almost sounds like we are actually just giving up. I hope when its time to vote that the main complainers actually do not give up their right to vote and have had enough and simply go and vote to change our country!
Sorea said:
on Tuesday 15-Oct-13 07:57 AM
Maybe it is a good thing that one of the major investors start to say that the current employment laws are making investment in our country difficult/impossible. Maybe if more companies do so it will be possible to curb the strikes and have it be what it was intended to be: a last resort for employees to negotiate with, and not the first port of call in the "wage war".
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!
