How well do you know your country

 

This past weekend my fiancé and I hosted a few friends for dinner for some catching up. As we sat in the kitchen chatting and making small talk before dinner I got to know 1 of the guests whom I met for the first time as  a down to earth guy, well spoken with good Christian values. He is a senior manager at 1 of the biggest telecommunication companies in the country which I will refer to as Company T….?As we had dinner the conversation led to his area of expertise telecommunications. It is a well known fact that my fiancé is not fond of his company. Being a well spoken articulate man he acknowledged that there are service delivery problems and human nature plays a role in this, i.e. it not uncommon for a service consultant to say to a client that because they live in a less affluent area their problem will not be seen to immediately. This is not the policy of the company and any service consultant making statements like these can be fired. He then asked her just 1 question: “How well do you love your country?” Not how much do you love your country?

He followed up this statement by saying at the end of this evening you will be an ambassador for his company. He proceeded to explain how on a flight back to Cape Town he stood up to take his laptop from the baggage compartment overhead and the person sitting behind him remarked “ You work for company T….? I hate Company  T….! Feeling the eyes of the entire airplane on him he knew he had to say something and he simply said Company T…. Loves you. During the flight down to Cape Town he and the “Company T- hater” struck up a conversation and he proceeded to inform the person of the ins and outs of his company and its operational procedures. As they disembarked in Cape Town this person walked away with a whole new perspective of Company T……

Back to our dinner guests - my fiancé said that she loves our country and wants it to succeed. Our friend informed us that if his company T…. and Eskom(Electricity supplier) were to fold or get sabotaged the entire country would come to a standstill. And thus our “lesson/conversion” started….There are 5 cellphone operators in the country and some of them claim to be the leader in the field when it comes to telecommunications and make claims that their networks are the best.  However what these companies don’t tell you in their advertising is that they are dependent on company T’s infrastructure to continue operating optimally, ie if I were to make a phonecall from one mobile operator to another the call is connected from tower A to tower B between the networks and the network charges us accordingly, however for tower A to connect to tower B a cable has to be connected between the 2 and this is where Company T comes in. If Company T cuts off the connection between the towers, mobile operators will not be able to operate as they claim they do, and they would only have connection in a small area- this of course will lead to major chaos in the country.

Banks play a major role in any country-and as to be expected people want access to their funds from the moment it is deposited into their account – the public does not care about logistics. Once again the banks rely on company T’s infrastructure to make this possible.  1 of the major banks is company T’s biggest client with a monthly bill in excess of R300 million and in order to keep this client’s CEO happy, Company T has dedicated staff 24hours a day to ensure that this bank’s system is up and running at an optimal level at all times.  Internet service providers offers clients uncapped data on adsl with the promise of quick internet connectivity and speed - what they fail to tell customers is that they buy their bandwidth from Company T and as soon as the internet service provider notice that a particular customer is using a lot of bandwidth they start to throttle the customers connection to the internet. Should the customer then call in to complain about the slow internet connection, the service provider will then simply put the blame on Company T without acknowledging their role.

It cost Company T roughly a R1 billion each year to lay new cables to ensure that all telecommunication are up and running at all times - unfortunately external factors like theft and staff dishonesty and the theft of copper cables by syndicates are major problems. Government has for years ignored the call to make the ownership of copper a license requirement. It was only until copper cable theft affected the Gautrain that government took heed of this call and plans are now afoot that will require all copper dealers to be licensed to deal in copper. Telecommunication companies are more prone in using fiber optic cables to negate the theft of copper. Because work are always ongoing in telecommunication, the general public would not be able to differential legitimate operators from thieves when if new cables are being laid down – these syndicates invest millions in trucks and operate brazenly.

Staff dishonesty is also a problem within Company T - if a client calls into Company Ta call centre consultant would ask the client a few basic questions to ascertain the nature of the problem and to see if the issue can be resolved over the phone. This is done to save the client money as it could cost the client R780 in call out fees if a technician is sent out to look at the line to rectify the problem. Unfortunately some dishonest technicians charge the client on the spot and pocket the money without issuing a receipt. The correct procedure requires the technician to capture the job in his logbook and capture the details on Company T’s system once the work is done. Some clients aggravate this dishonesty when they ask technicians to do work privately and then offer the technician a sum of money “under the table” in exchange for the work done.

Unfortunately Company T is government owned under the leadership of the minister of Telecommunication, the minister has 25 advisors who advise him/her on various aspect of the business, these advisors however will not compromise their own interest in the field and would normally advise the minister with advice that will benefit their own interest as the minister is government appointed he or she may not have any knowledge of how to run the business.  The idea or feeling is for the government to privatise Company T. In the past there has been foreign owned companies who wanted to take over a majority share and invest money for further development - these companies however would want to have management control. These companies have no loyalty to the host country and can walk away at anytime, - an example is telecommunication company AT&T who invested R5 billion in a company and walked away with R45 billion 5 years later.

We as local people in the street don’t know what goes on behind the scenes in big companies and we often complain when things don’t go our way, but when an expert in the field shares inside information it certainly is an eye opener and we look at our companies with new respect purely on the basis of what they can do for us.

Amazing race to 40

 

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 GO, this countdown was what 11 teams have been waiting to hear since we accepted an invitation to a friend’s 40^th birthday bash on the outskirts of the Western Cape .  All the teams knew was that the start was at Pascals at 09h00 am on the 24 August in Napier, 2 hours drive from Cape Town.

After a quick cup of coffee and croissants the teams were sent on their way by the race marshals. The 1^st clue took us to the Millitaria museum in the town where we had to take a picture of the Der Fuhrers Signature with another team which had to be sent electronically to the race organizers before in order to receive our next clue.  After searching around for a while, all the teams found the clue and we were off to the next stop in the race a 20 minute drive away where we had to find a church whose congregation consist of washed-up old wrecks and take a picture of the Marie Elise statuette and another photo opportunity with a rival team.  With the museum only opening at 10h15 all the teams had a chance to catch up to one another.  As a lover of history I completely got lost in what was to offer in the 2 museums and it cost my team some valuable minutes.  In the shipwreck museum I missed a valuable hint when I was asked by the curator if I had seen the clue inside the main hall and answered in the negative.  Her confused smile said “It is inside”.  After finding the clue and my wife (who was searching elsewhere) we had our picture taken and were on our way to the 3^rd leg of the race, where we had to find a place that is big enough to house a ‘wagon’.

A phone call from team 1 with whom we had to take a picture sent us on our way to Waenhuiskraal nature reserve and a cave.  My attempt to hitch a ride in a 4x4 was unsuccessful and we had to walk more than a kilometre to the cave in loose sand. We received a celebratory Champaign drink and then proceeded over the slippery rocks to have our picture taken inside the cave while it was still low tide. Teams then received their next clue which sent us off on the 5^th leg of the race, taking the road less travelled via the farm Prinskraal to the Cape of Needles and on route have a picture taken with sheep.  As the signage to the farm was facing the wrong side of the road most teams drove past before eventually making a U-turn.  On the way we uncounted another road block as some cows from a nearby farm had wandered onto the main road. A bit of confusion ensued when a message came through that all the teams had been given the wrong clue and had to go back to Willene’s Arts and Craft in Kassiesbaai for lunch and the 4^th clue.  Following strict instructions from the race organizers the hostess at Willene told the teams of the next step in the race and the protocol each team had to follow. The 5th clue, which every team knew already, took all the teams back to Prinskraal.

Here some teams got delayed as their smartphones could not scan the next clue for the instructions which would take them onto leg 6 of the race to Pondjiebotter.  By now nerves started to fray as teams drove off into the unknown and phoned around for help. By now cars were low on petrol and drivers were looking out for the nearest petrol station.  The long drive to the next clue caused tension among drivers as uncertainty took hold of them;some co drivers also were not up to speed and were of no help to the drivers.  After stopping for petrol and asking for directions to the next clue the teams finally arrived at Pondjiebotter to look for the Ghost that protects the town at the entrance to the town of Cape Agulhas.

With cellphone batteries nearly dead and morale now at an all time low, teams were going through the motions to get to the end of the race. Next leg of the race took the teams to the lighthouse in town where every team ended up waiting for team 5 who wandered off to buy wine. The next clue took the teams to the southernmost tip of Africa and another photo shoot-this time with team 6.  With tired legs and weary bodies the teams arrived at the southernmost tip of Africa.  We spotted 1 of the race organizers giving us the idea that the race was almost over.  Leg 8 of the race took us to a parking lot from where we walked onto the beach looking for a clue which led us to a house at the bottom of the beach, which thankfully signalled the end of the race.

The amazing race was a great concept with teams determined at the start of the race to win. This mentality soon gave way to camaraderie as teams got to know one another and enjoyed each other’s company throughout the day.  The speeches at the party was a great testimony to the birthday girl, as friends and family celebrated her birthday throughout the night.

The Mayonnaise Jar

 

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
When 24 hours in a day is not enough;
remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly,
he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and start to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again
if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand
and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded
With an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table
and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
 
The golf balls are the important things - God, family,
children, health, friends, and favorite passions
Things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else -- The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued,
'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are
important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time
to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand
and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.

'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Hiking in the West Coast National Park

 

Hiking in the West Coast National Park, Postberg reserve is awesome. If you a keen hiker get a group together and go, head up the R27 going north- way up the West Coast road.

The Postberg Reserve is only open to the public during August and September. After the San Park official talked us through the rules and regulations and mentioning that the walk would take roughly 4 hours we were on our way.  Excitement gripped our group when he mentioned that we would spot lots of wildlife. Off we went and almost immediately we came across 2 tortoises, 1 sadly just an empty shell.  2 Blue Cranes welcomed us as we passed the marshland where they were resting.

Upon reaching the top of the lookout point, the heavens opened up which made the clear visibility of the animals difficult. We had a bird’s eye view of the Langebaan lagoon to our right and Saldanha Bay to our left. Throughout the day we saw Ostrich, Gemsbok, Cape mountain Zebra and their babies and Bontebok etc. it appears that there must have been some dispute between some of the Zebra herds as 1 of the herds kept on chasing after another herd.  According to 1 of the park officials 1 of the male Zebras has challenge the alpha male in the group for the leadership of the group.  Interestingly the Zebras has all been given names by the San park officials which all starts with a Z.

Flowers were plentiful all day, beautiful Yellow, Orange, White, Pink and Purple all enjoying the sun that was playing Peek-a Boo all day.  Walking along the amazing coastline we saw huge waves upon waves breaking on the rocks below us.

Almost 5 hours and 15 kilometres later we came to the end of the hike or so we thought only to be told by the San Parks official that we missed a loop near the end. This did not matter to us as by this time we were tired, wet with sore feet and in serious need of a good cup of coffee.

As we left the reserve, we came across an Ostrich couple taken their little ones for a walk down the exit road of the park.  The West Coast National Park certainly has it all, flowers, wildlife, birds, but more importantly its the unmistakably Natural beauty that makes it worth going.

A homeless tale of seeking?

Bergies, Vagrants, Homeless,Strollers, Car Guards, Beggars - whatever we have learnt to call them, they are all around us. Vagrants and homeless people will hang around in one place and will either sleep in a night shelter or out in an open area protected from the elements, a stroller will move from place to place, do odd jobs and move on to the next area. We “see” them on the train singing, on street corners, in fact anywhere there are people or regular movement. They are young and old, moms, dads, even entire families who each occupy a corner - waiting for the traffic to come to a stop before approaching the often blank faced motorists at the traffic light or hurrying pedestrians for money or food. Often they don’t verbalize their need – an outstretched hand, pleading eyes, and sometimes a makeshift sign spell out the immediate need.

It is not uncommon for vagrants to target people who have helped them out of pity ones before. They hang around the shop and when they see “their” benefactor approaching the shop they intercept them with their “own shopping list”. My colleagues and I often observed a young lady with her 4 young kids – all under the age of 12. Her place of work: a corner on a busy 4 way stops. She stands with her youngest child on her hip and as soon as the traffic comes to a stop she would walk up the road, waving at the drivers while on the other corners the other 3 young kids (when they are around) would approach drivers of other cars or passing pedestrians for handouts. Begging is the norm, it has become second nature to them. On occasion we chatted to the kids who told us that they travel by train to Observatory from the Cape Flats to beg with their mom. One day, my colleague gave the dad (who is normally never around and just happened to be there) a few slices of bread which were quickly wolfed down without any thought being given to his wife and youngest child nearby.

I have observed that some homeless people go to bed early - if you were to walk down Lansdowne road Claremont, you would see them cleaning up their sleeping area and getting ready to settle down for the night in any available space they can find. Some vagrants do have their dedicated space they go back to every night- in alleys or simply in front of a shop or door. Store owners have unwittingly come to see the advantage of having a “security guard” right on their doorstep, while for most owners the stench left behind is comprehensible, and sees them actively trying to discourage and chase away these homeless souls. Off course, when the shop owners come to work the next day these people are long gone. Most homeless people have a regular sleeping spot which they see as theirs or those who can afford it sleeps in a night shelter where they pay about R10 for a bed for the night.

However, not all homeless people are happy-go-lucky. Some are loud, disrespectful, rude and have absolutely no respect for people or their donations of food. I have seen and heard about food being dumped in the nearest bin or in the street– their frustration evident as the withdrawal symptoms demand a top up of alcohol. Who knows what emotions they hope to suppress -perhaps too dull the pain of a bad memory or of poor choices made? Unfortunately for the vagrants their behaviour led to people turning a blind eye to their plight. Some car guards have adopted a pro active approach and demand money from drivers as they pull out of parking bays at malls, directing them in a half drunk stupor and the drivers are left to wonder if their cars were guarded. In the end, their methods are all justifiable to them I suppose – they need to receive something to eat from someone, if only these beggars could try and find a regular job even if it means sweeping the streets.

Which is more rewarding -begging on the streets or doing a regular job? If given an opportunity some beggars would probably want to return to a normal lifestyle. However the majority however find begging on the street and moving around more appealing than having to deal with social issues. 

Poachers and Poaching

Recently 2 stories made news headlines in Cape Town, in the 1^st story a pleasure boat the “Maroshga” capsized off  Hout-Bay and 2 people ( a passenger and a crew member) lost the lives, in another incident in Hawston outside of Hermanus poachers attacked a police station in protest of what they call “abuse of power” by the police, 7 police vehicles were damaged or destroyed  and 2 people including a 13 year old boy were injured .In the Hout-Bay incident poachers were busy diving for abalone when the Maroshga got into trouble, quick thinking and assistance by the poachers led to only 2 lives being lost at sea.

Most of the poachers on the ground live in poor communities with a high unemployment rate and see stealing from the sea as their only means of an income since their parents or grandparents are or were fisherman who have lost their jobs as fishing companies were unable to secure fishing permits which would have allowed them to fish from the sea and earn a living.  Speak to poachers and they will tell you that they are doing this so that they can put food on the table and feed their families.

This is partially true as these poachers 'syndicates sell the abalone to the highest bidder for huge amounts, normally Chinese syndicates who smuggle the abalone out of the country for the Asian market.  From the money poachers earn they would buy better equipment (ski boats, scuba gear, air tanks etc), pay staff and finance their lavish lifestyles, flashy cars, clothing, alcohol and the smoking of drugs, rowdy behaviour is not uncommon and little or no respect is shown to the neighbours, in most cases only a small percentage of the money poachers earn filters down to their families.

Smuggling syndicates would contact the poachers with an order for abalone or poachers would alternatively contact the syndicates with an offer of abalone. Poachers would go out either under the cover of darkness or in broad daylight.  Poaching crews normally consist of a boat skipper, diving crew, and mules (to carry the abalone) and the ring leaders of the whole operation. If the poachers have a rowboat hidden away near where they will be poaching they would employ an oarsman to row the boat out to where the divers are busy poaching. What would normally happen is that not the entire crew would go out if poaching takes place during the day, normally it would only be the boat skipper and diving crew on the speedboat without any diving or poaching equipment with them, just normal fishing gear. The rest of the team would either drive or walk over the mountain to a designate area. 

After catching the abalone the speedboat would drop the illegal catch and diving equipment off from where the catch is then either carried or driven back to the home base. From here buyers are contacted and the abalone would be delivered as far afield as Joburg (Johannesburg). South Africa has protected marine reserve areas where no fishing or diving is allowed, because of a lack of man power to patrol and protect these areas it is open to abuse, it these areas that poachers target and poaching takes place. There are designated areas where anti poaching units are based to monitor the sea. These units would go out to sea and patrol the areas or watch from the beach and monitor the movement of poachers as they engage in their illegal activities.  If poachers see the anti poaching unit approach they would dump their catch overboard and try and make their escape, as the poachers will have nothing on them they can’t be charged with poaching, they can however be charged with trespassing in a nature reserve and the skipper could be charged with skippering a boat without a skippers license.  

In undercover operations at night the anti poaching unit together with the police will have sting operations whereby the anti poaching unit will go out at night and creep up on unsuspecting poachers under the cover of darkness and make arrest before the poachers had a change to dump their catch back in the sea and the divers are still in the water, in some cases police divers will be in the water already and intercept any bags of abalone the poachers tries to dump.  

If poachers happen to make to land the police will have roadblocks in place to stop the poachers from getting away.  Often a anti poaching unit will arrive at a lookout area among the dunes and see poachers racing away from them,  a high speed chase will ensue which may result in poachers being captured, this however is not often the case as poachers tends to fire at any of their pursuers.

 Poachers are well known in the area they live in because of their illegal activities and as long as the communities they live in protect them from the police the battle against poaching will be loss and poachers would continue poaching under the guise of putting food on their family’s dinner table