Debating the future of South Africa
The National Planning Council online IBM brain storming jam platform
I have posted 33 post since the #NPC_jam started on a discussion about the future of #South_Africa I made contributions on various topics...some were better than others..some could have been better...there is only 13 hours of jamming left. T
To stimulate collaboration
My #vision for #2030 is that tax structures are in place to stimulate collaboration between established business and entrapreneurial business. New business are exempt from company and/or business taxes for the first three years of that company's existence.
Actions required:
1) The Goverment of South Africa must allow for tax breaks where established business proof that they are investing in start-up companies either financially of by offering their skill base to support these companies.
2) SARS must look at ways to allow companies to start up without having to pay taxes so that, money can be put back into the business. There are some risks that can lead to the abuse of such a policy but means and methods will be possible to allow companies that they do not use the money for profits but for expansion.
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The above is my generic input. Now I would like to respond as a White Afrikaner Boer. Afrikaners are eager to contribute to the coutries economic growth but they are disgarded as productive resources or a valued skill base through policies such as Affirmative Action and Black Economic empowerment.
My Vision for 2030 is that there ae no affirmative action of black economic empowerment that constrains the contribution Afrikaners can make to the economy of the country.
Action required:
1) The abolishment of race based policies that aims to restore the inequalities of the past and replace them with policies that focus on the need of the poor and the need for entrapeneurship. To stimulate entrepreneurship all the resources of South Africa should be fully optimised and that includes the skill base that was vested into this minority group.
2) Do not put the emphasis on Black economic empowerment but rather again focus on collaboration. Invest in companies where we see successful collaboration accross race and cultural differences. In this way the Entrepreneurship is based on a more solid base that is supported by cultural diversity rather than a single push to advance one group of people.
On the National Health Insurance
A national #health insurance is a good intent but the question is whether South Africa can afford such insurance. The second question would be to ask if such insurance will be the best investment of money.
South Africa does not have the financial capital to institute health insurance for all fifty million people in the country. The net effect is that people will be poorer rather than wealthier or healthier.
My vision for 2030: South Africa is a country where investment is made in proactive health management rather than health insurance
Rather than be reactive to address the need of people when they are ill the first emphasis should be placed on preventing illness in the first place. Much can be done by citizens by simple life-style changes to limit vulnerability to illness. For example the quality of fruit and vegetables available to eat should be addressed. Basic exercises should be the focus. If people cannot eat nutritional food they will be more prone to illness which will drain the National Health Insurance. Insurance is reactive and not proactive. To manage insurance you must manage risk and you manage risk by first eliminating the cause of claims as far as possible.
Action needed: A concerted effort to look proactively at health by focusing on encouraging a healthy lifestyle for all South African's and specifically the poor and ensure hygienic living condition and access to nutritional food.
On a community centered #society
My vision for 2030: South Africa is a community centered society where communities in the same regional area collaborate through active departmental programs to improve that area as a whole.
People are naturally self-cantered and focus firstly on their own needs. A behaviour pattern based on a focus on self can only be changed if we can see that the health of the individual is linked to the health of the community. The old value of: "I am ok if you are ok" should be embedded into our community. A mutual respect between fellow South African's must be fostered irrespective of race, class or wealth. We can do much in terms of this behavioural change by instituting community programs where members of a community meet to address how they can support those who struggle in their community. However they have to look at it from the perspective of how all will benefit from uplifting the community. Where a community is uplifted the change ...
On an independent #Afrikaner homeland
I know this is a controversial topic but since this is a forum of debate it is something that needs to be placed on the agenda. On 24 September 2011 about 50000 Afrikaners who want to be independent from South Africa conducted a national vote for a leadership team to negotiate with the Government for an independent land of their own. This is done peacefully and lawfully within the scope of the country's constitution and the procedures followed aligns with international law and recognition of people with a unique history, belief and language. A benefit for the country as a whole is that the group of Afrikaners that do not want to participate in the country can actually be removed from the South African context into a homeland, which will reduce racism in the rest of South Africa.
Question: Can South Africa's vision include the idea of an independent Afrikaner Volkstaat. What are the benefits or disadvantages of resettling these Afrikaners in a Volkstaat? Should the aspirations of such a minority be entertained by the majority. Can it contribute to redress the racial imbalances of the country?
(I never got any replies on this entry)
On education
Every child must have the right to #education. However in many schools some children are so disruptive that the majority of kids cannot progress. Corporal punishment was removed from the school system and children often have more rights than the teachers. To have rights one must respect the rights of others. Some disciplinary systems are so laborious in terms of warning upon warning that it is too slow to take action to restore discipline within the classroom.
How do we maintain some level of discipline in schools in order to foster a learning environment for children. Should we not deny children who continuously challenge the orderly conduct needed for schools to be effective? How do we envision schools to function in 2030?
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I am not a proponent of corporal punishment. Discipline starts at home but my concern is with the discipline at school. There discipline starts with a discussion between teacher and child. In my vision much more emphasis is made when training teachers on how to communicate and how to build relations ships with children. The weakness of this approach is that with a high pupil to teacher ratio it becomes difficult to have those types of discussions. I would suggest that schools institutes paid time for teachers after school where they schedule meetings with children that continuously misbehave. This will give deprive the child from free time and give the teacher additional time to address the cause of the unruly behaviour.
My vision for 2030 would be that teachers are not just educators but also equipped with the emotional intelligence and trained to deal with the child as a whole and address the psychological needs of the child.
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The biggest challenge for school teachers is the number of children to teacher ratio combined with the amount of administrative work that needs to be done. A teacher can not effectively support a large number of children. Studies need to be done on optimal numbers and then enforced so that teachers can get a sense of satisfaction from what they are doing.
On ethics and values
Our #ethics and #values should be based on the constitution of the country with specific reference to Chapter 2: Bill of Rights. We emphasise ethics and values by continuing to focus on those basic principles. Government should continually reference the Bill of rights and show how they apply those bill of rights in their function. The community will follow in the footsteps of their leaders. The weakness of our constitution is that we do not show the responsibilities that come with our rights. Not so long ago a bill of responsibilities was released for the youth, but that should be a bill for all South Africans.
My vision for 2030 is that we have a constitution where the bill of rights is augmented with a bill of responsibilities and that our government will be the ones that protect those rights and express it in a responsible manner
In the past youth activism was directed at a common enemy or problem:
#Apartheid was the problem and the institution maintaining it the enemy. With apartheid demolished there is a lack of common focus.
Mr Mandela was a person who almost got it right to point into a new direction of activism. He pointed activism into the direction of reconciliation. An activist breaks the mould that no longer holds value in the present day. The activist we need now is the one that puts the past in the past and ask how can we all contribute to a better tomorrow.
We are missing a focus for activism and my proposal is that leaders give direction and point to reconciliation as the one force that can drive our country to be globally competitive.
On improving efficiency
Improving the efficiency of management in the #public_service.
Efficiency starts with understanding productivity and the drivers of productivity. In the public service there is not the easy financial bottom line that help managers to see if they are efficient.
Public services should be benchmarked - firstly internally by comparing service execution based on a geographical separation and secondly externally by evaluating those services against comparable countries. You might not be able to draw direct lines of comparison but at least you can see whether you are narrowing the gap, exceeding it or if the gap is increasing...then managers should be accountable for the gaps.
On water resources
South Africa has to look at existing #water resources. To many of our water resources are spoiled throug polution and neglect. We must begin to build information aware infrastructure where the pipe is intelligent enough to realise that there is a drop in pleasure too long and then send a signal out to a central office to report a leakage. Response teams can then assess the situation and address it.
On race classification
Race remains a dividing factor. My 2030 vision is a South Africa where the classification by race is abolished by law. Racial interpretations almost always are wrong. One can say one race is rich and somebody will bring you an example of a poor person of that race. Our conclusions and assumptions about race is never correct and always creates animosity. If the use of #race is abolished in all spheres of the country you will see a dramatic change in behaviour within two years.
Each race has qualities that contribute to the country's well being. Our diversity is our strength. All our resources and skills must be utilised. My vision for 2030 is a South Africa where all people work together to grow an economy and nation that is globally competitive.
On using statistics
Be careful of how we use #statistics. If the population consisted of a 100 people then by rough estimation 9 would be white, 9 would be coloured, 2 indian and 80 African. Given the statistics we can say 95% of whites are employed, 70% Africans, 88% Coloureds and 92% Asians. Applying this to your our world population of 100 people it will mean that 8 whites will have jobs, 8 coloureds, 2 indians and 56 blacks. Now you look at 56 blacks with jobs against 8 whites with jobs. The same statistics but suddenly with a different interpretation. Do not skew the information by looking at persentages only. Look at the actual numbers as well to get context to what is being written.
My vision for 2030 would be not that we look at whether one race groups are better than another but rather that we look at what percentage of our population is poor and try to reduce the number of poor people across all races.
Drawing comparisons along racial lines is dividing and shifting our focus from the real problems
On broadband
If people have access to free #broadband they would be able to inform their municipalities vie short message or e-mail. In everybody one can set up kiosks with fee access for basic services...like the telephones in the past that was for community use.
More important with broadband you can create an environmental aware world where the pipe to a house knows by itself that the water is cut and notify the required services. In this way the person does not even have to be able to phone.
The benefits that come from broadband is flexible and will empower even the poor to have access to information and better communication infrastructure.
My vision for 2030 is where Africa is connected through broadband and we collaborate not just as South Africans but as Africans across Africa.
On arts and culture
#Art has sparked a revival in many cultures and itself is a product of a shift in mind set. A shift in how people saw there own potential. The government should invest in a work of art that is focused on the idea of reconciliation, collaboration and unity in our diversity. Something that can inspire generation after generation of what can be accomplish if people work together. Nothing is more unifying than a symbol of the ideals we stand for. It should not be a sculpture of an individual but a monument with symbolism. Beneath the sculpture should be a art gallery with the best of local art. This is another form of job creation where people are paid for creativity that is within each person's ability. Such a statue might seem a waste of money but it remains the focus of inspiration for many generations.
Taking it a step further the government should not just build houses but empower people to paint their own houses with whatever colours they fancy. Our worst looking areas can be improved not with new housing but simply by giving people paint and encouragement to give expression to their creativity in painting their own homes.
On representation of people in Parliament
Members of #Parliament are appointed by parties chosen by the people through democratic elections. Maybe the party system is not optimal and people should be chosen by name rather than by party. Adding another house would be very expensive. You will have to replace either the National Assembly or the National Council of Provinces. All legislation goes through both houses before being accepted. I would suggest that one look at the restructuring of the National Council of provinces by increasing its size and allow for local representation to be part of the house even if it is on a rotational basis. In that way you have always got new thinking into the parliamentary process, allows for greater diversity and reduce the ability of building lobby groups that are self serving rather than serving the people they represent.
My 2030 vision would be that more people participate actively in participate in Parliament not just as contributors but in the actual decision making.
On sport in schools
I support the idea of integrating
#sport and
#education. Far to often the focus on sport is on competition and not on the developmental aspects of the game. All children must be taught at school how to play the sport, how to work as a team rather than just those few who are talented. Sporting knowledge should be part of the school syllabus.
My vision for 2030 is that all children are educated on school level in different types of sport so that our children developed more balanced. If a love for sport is nurtured from an early age it is likely that children will lead a more healthy life later as adults.
On why school pupils do not complete their scholastic education
The problem, why learners do not reach grade 12 and drop, out starts 12 years before they reach grade 12. The foundation phases of learning are the most important. The current approach is to be sorry for pupils and to pass them to the next grade when they have not mastered the foundation skills. Ultimately the gap increases between what the pupil can do and what is expected from him/her. They are consistently bombarded with the message that they are not good enough.
My contribution to the plan would be that the Education department reviews this policy. It is far better to keep a pupil back for another year in the foundation stage than in latter stage of education. This should not be seen as a weakness for not all children are ready at the same time. If the foundation is firm you can build on that foundation but if the foundation is weak you cannot hope to build a house.
On open source technology
Investing into developing skills in the #open_source market can create significant revenue streams. Government should look at growth opportunities where South Africa can dominate markets. By focusing on helping people to gain skills in open source products it allows for the creation of new products and services in information and communication technologies. This is still a growing market with lots of opportunities. One of the untapped areas with huge global potential is system that integrate with the environment to create intelligent environments for example a piping system that is aware of whether there is a leak or not. That is an area of growth in terms of improved energy management.
On taxing on books
To foster a reading culture #books should be made as available as possible. Import taxes and VAT makes books a very expensive commodity that the poor simply can not afford. Having access to books gives more affluent children an advantage over poor children which is unfair. Many well known people were able to lift themselves out of poverty when they had access to books.
My suggestion is that all taxes, import taxes and VAT should be removed from books. Lets get the nation reading for an informed nation will achieve so much more...and it benefits everybody.
On the skills of teachers
Although presentation skills might not be the top priority, teachers must learn how to present information. Even if they are trained well in the end the package through which the education is delivered makes the difference. It is easy and not costly to help teachers acquire presentation skills. I would like to see it as a "must have" for all teachers
On leadership development
The most practical and cost effective way of developing #leadership and #communication skills is for people to join the program offered by Toastmasters International - a non-profit organisation that focus on leadership and communication skill development.
It would make a remarkable difference if government on all levels encourage their employees to join such a program. They operate on a club basis and there are clubs across the country. People acquire leadership and communication skills on a practical level from in a supportive environment. Allowing participants to gain an internationally recognised certification.
On family planning and population growth
By 2030 South Africa's #population might have doubled. This means 100 million people have to live from the same resources. Population growth alone will result in a continue need for jobs and a resultant increase in poverty due to a lack of jobs.
The government will have to look seriously at how population growth is managed. Population growth is the one risk factor that can derail all plans for prosperity. My suggestion is that people are educated on the advantages of small families. The government should also consider like the Chinese to begin to curtail population growth by limiting the number of children allowed per family.
This is not a popular topic but needs to be discussed.
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Even at the current 1% per annum population growth we will have to plan for that growth. 1% might sound not like much growth but the implication is that if we have 50 million people now in the country we will have to look after 60 million people by 2030. This will place considerable pressure on the job market. Which is a 20% growth in population. If we want to look at a 2030 vision we need to look at what the most likely scenario would be in 2030. I still think family planning must be addressed as part of the equation or else we need to think about adding 20% more water, electricity, jobs and space to live by 2030.
On reengineering the criminal prosecution process
The various bodies involved with #crime fighting and prosecution is still working in silos and in an unintegrated manner. This silo approach creates gaps that allow criminals to escape the law.
The whole process should be reengineered and an process owner established in government to ensure integration between all the functional specialists e.g. the capturing, prosecution, sentencing and corrective action of criminals should be addressed. When we reach 2030 there must be much more cohesiveness between these entities and a person or group of people that make sure that the integration is flexible, fluid and tight.
The focus must change from catching criminals to rehabilitating criminal behaviour as a whole. This means that crime must be identified that can most likely lead to rehabilitation and then see how the process can be improved to let people do community service rather than jail times. The country cannot afford jails that are full and needs administration. Our prisoners should be put to better use.
My Vision for 2030 is an integrated criminal prosecution process with an integration team focused on improving collaboration between different institutions involved. I also want to see a process more focused on effective rehabilitation through social services rather than just jail time for prisoners.
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I did not had in mind the reengineering or changing of the constitution. I think the constitution is a sound base and that the individual departments like the police, judiciary and correctional services are probably doing a great job as individual institutions but not as a collective process. Catching criminals without proper evidence or failing to prosecute due to compromising evidence is an example. Lawyers should be intimately involved in the prosecution during the investigation of crimes. The gap is when there is a handover of a function from one unit to another. Those gaps need to be identified and eliminated.
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Our psychologists should develop mechanisms to identify and rank which criminal behaviour is most likely to be rehabilitated. Currently we isolate prisoners in their own community where further criminal behaviour is bred. First time criminals for non-violent transgressions should be treated differently. They should be forced to do community work...even if it is looking after the elderly or repairing schools. Something productive so that they can develop their sense of self-worth and see another type of value system. The advantages for communities would be obvious. When the corrective services bus in a group convicted criminals to have a school fixed at no additional cost then the advantages would be obvious.
On the role of South Africa in Africa
My 2030 vision is for a more United Africa where there are no inequalities between African countries but that African countries collaborate more to compete globally as a regional force. South African's must be encouraged to travel more to our neighbouring countries and do more business. Our public broadcasters must offer more material from our neighbouring countries. Government should seek ways of stimulating relationships between South Africa and other African countries. For example from tourism perspective there must be effort to give rich tourists a full African tour...rather than just a South African tour.
On a common citizen database
I think the idea of a common database of citizens will be widely beneficial especially within the government. No need to maintain duplicate data and no need to correct data across multiple instances. The only issue that must be managed well is the individuals right of privacy. A citizen must provide the right for a third party to access information or use it. There should be a universal grid where a citizen gives an organisation permission to access the information via a code rather than having to fill in the same form over and over and over again.
My 2030 vision would be a world where I do not have to fill in my contact details but just give permission via the internet for my information to be made available to a company.
On Black Economic Empowerment
I can understand why black people defend BEE and AA. They benefit tremendously from it.
However, as a White Afrikaner Boer I am biased. BEE is not theft it is unfair and racially motivated. In my eyes BEE and AA is racial discrimination in reverse. People are being favoured based on their skin colour and doing the same unrighteous thing the National party tried to do with an argument of protecting white people. BEE and AA are the two policies that degrade my people to second hand citizens of the country irrespective of their qualifications, work ethic or attitude towards other races. I had to teach my children about racism because I had to explain to them why they have to do more and still not qualify for a bursary for further education. It seems that BEE will still be firmly in place in 2030 since we are trying to develop a vision for the next twenty years. What happened to reconciliation? What it means is that white people do not deserve to be rich because they are white.
The consequence was already detrimental to South Africa. We have not optimised or utilised the skill that was invested into white people. Consequently the economy could not have grown optimally. I am by no means degrading blacks I know and work with many black people and most are competent and can stand fully as professional people without AA or BEE. The face of poverty cannot be changed to being white because whites are a minority. South Africa is the only country where BEE and AA is applied to uplift a majority over a minority. If all whites are forced into poverty by racial policies and legislation then the majority of poor people will still be black.
White people also have aspirations. They also want to grow and better themselves...just like anybody else. As a white person I want to make a positive contribution but I am not allowed to follow my full potential. The fact is that with BEE and AA our conversations will always turn into a racist argument that is divisive. Redress the past by ensuring fairness and equality...let everybody compete on the same level. Make education equal, uplift the poor. My plea is make us, whites, equal contributors and allow us to make the contribution we can make.
These race based policies is making every white person accountable for something they can do nothing about. I cannot change the past and I cannot change my skin colour so I deserve to be poor and my children do not deserve equal opportunities. I may not have the same access to job opportunities nor to cash or business if I want to start up a business...irrespective of who I am, how I feel about South Africa or whether I am a racist or not.
Is BEE the vision for 2030? I black dominance the vision for 2030? Is the vision for 2030 to force whites into poverty? Maybe we hope that all whites have by that time left or that the white race has been nullified by then? These are serious questions to address. There is no cut-off date for AA or BEE it is just something that must continue. There is no target that must be achieved before we can say, yes equality has been achieved so that we do not have to discriminate against a minority.
If the policy and vision is not to give Afrikaner people the opportunity to contribute fully, and to continue discrimination on the flag of correcting the past, then I beg that we create a vision of an Independent Afrikaner Homeland. On 24 September a group of Afrikaners elected a leadership group to negotiate a homeland for Afrikaners. If we cannot contribute then at least provide us with a physical piece of land where we can remove ourselves from the equation.
If I cannot have a vision of 2030 where my children can fully express their skills and talents then allow me a vision of 2030 of an independent Afrikaner homeland. We are from Africa, our language is from Africa, our history is in Africa…we have no connection with any foreign countries. I have fought hard to be part of this country and to be part of the rainbow nation of Mr Nelson Mandela but if that is not possible for me and my children, then engage with the leaders that are elected. They represent only about 50000 registered voters. Allow them to have a space where they can build a future from scratch…we will not ask for labour, investment or resources.
My children were born after 1994, they never knew apartheid and never benefited from it…they are still carrying the burden…but that burden is shifting - for unrighteousness will remain on the shoulders of those who practice it. Avoid making the same mistakes…we can achieve more when we collaborate than what we can when we just move wealth and opportunity from one side to the other. The latter strategy does not create anything….only collaboration will achieve something.
BEE? It is an inconvenient truth now for those on the receiving end but the future burden of those who benefit at the cost of others.
On transportation
One of the needs for inner city development is #transport. Paris is currently working on an electric car program where people higher a car at a point and drop it at another. They intent to expand to have 3000 cars with 1000 drop off/pick up stations. If we look at 2030 maybe we can dream of such a system operating on solar energy.
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We will have to look at speeding up the movement between South African cities. Can we have a vision for 2030 to have a road between major cities that are without a speed limit like the autobahn in Germany? Can we ban trucks from this autobahn...I am sure people will not mind paying tolls if they can get fast from point one to point two.
Talking about inter city travel. The trucks are really messing up the roads, motorists are subsidizing those trucks...Get more freight on rail infrastructure dedicated to heavy loads or make trucks pay their fair share of the damage to the road infrastructure. A road just for cars will be cheaper to build since engineers would not have to make provision for ultra heavy loads.
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We need a critical eye on ideas. Rail freight is much more sustainable once the investment into the infrastructure has been made. One has to go and compare numbers, which I can not do now but, I think the immediate infrastructure cost for rail will be higher but if you look at total cost of ownership over a long term then rail will be the better option with less of a carbon footprint. I am open to be convinced that I am wrong.
A road infrastructure just for cars...I am happy to include buses and mini taxis into the equation. As any long term bus driver or taxi driver if they would love to get across the country faster and also ask the passengers of whom many is people moving from cities to rural homes and the poor also want to spend more time with their families. Time is money and the less time you take to travel. You can also still allow for smaller road vehicles that carry freight. I think one of the biggest killers on our roads are not speeding but the fact that people over take dangerously and carelessly slower moving vehicles. The country of the future will have to move faster and more efficiently to be competitive on a global scale...we need to look at efficiency and speed in all aspects.
On business
Corporate companies are focused on profitability. The focus was shifted by the King III governance to include sustainability. What is lacking is a complete perspective on value creation. Value creation can not just be value in terms of more returns for stakeholders and bigger salaries for managers. A key component on which companies must report is their contribution to the community. This require a change in ethics. My vision for 2030 is that companies realise that long term sustainability is a product of operating in a healthy community and that companies must deliberately look at the value they add to communities in all spheres.
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Rather than taxing money into a central pool and then giving grants to people, building houses for them etc. I propose that companies are given tax cuts if they are involved with social projects and can proof that they made a social impact. For example if a big company created jobs, or helped to build houses, or train people then they are involved with the community which improve there brand but at the same time they are making a huge difference to the quality of life of the poor. That should give them a tax break because they are relieving the government from the task.
It is beneficial for a government's election campaign if they tax and they seem to be giving but does not lead to community involvement of business. A separate of skills are needed which often is non specialists. Companies already have skilled resources looking at the efficient application of resources. You will get much better economies of scale and efficiency by stimulating involvement of companies in the upliftment of communities. The government can implement a scorecard to focus business on the biggest area of need.
My vision for 2030 is that big business are stimulate through tax incentives to be more accountable to the people of the country and focus on adding value to the community at large.
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My vision for 2030 is that every building in South Africa should be equipped with solar panels connected to the energy grid of South Africa so that energy can be centrally stored and distributed across the country.
This is an area of growth...we can build an industry and create jobs by becoming a nation that can best tap efficient power creation through solar technology. It will create jobs for technical people as well as scientific people while contributing to clean energy usage.
On national spiritual wellbeing
Spiritual well-being is as important as nutrition and wealth and often neglected since state and church are largely separated. South Africa is a remarkable tolerant society which allow for every form of spirituality.
My vision for 2030 is that we will continue to build on this openness towards diversity. Spirituality links people across racial lines and also across class and status. When we learn that there is human depth within our human nature and we embrace our spirituality then we will develop a new sense of awareness that is not self centered but aware that we are one humanity, one species. An awareness of our spirituality will draw us to be the best we can irrespective of our religious convictions.
I have a vision of 2030 where we do not have to feel inferior or ashamed over our background, history or religion but where everybody has the freedom to express the best of their beliefs, the best of their culture and the best of their philosophies.
I have a vision for 2030 where schools teach not just children what to think but rather how to think. Lets imbue our children with a love for philosophy, lets encourage creativity and free thinking. Once we learn to appreciate our diversity we will also learn to look past the man made borders that divide one group from another. Our greatest strength is to be united within our diversity...united in seeing all as part of one humanity.
On participating in the NCP jam
This is my last contribution to the NPC jam. I want to thank the NPC for such a great initiative. I hope that in 2030 this type of collaboration with citizens will not be the exception but the rule. This is a prime example of how we can all engage in raising concerns but also looking at the future together. Just by sharing ideas even if they are wild and often not popular it contributed to the cohesion of all participants. I want to belief that the more we participate in such forums the more we will learn to appreciate our diversity.
Thank you for allowing me to participate as an equal partner without being shy about my heritage and background. Thank you for allowing me to attempt to make a contribution. May the good seeds planted by all this engagement all grow to the benefit of all in South Africa and to the benefit of Africa as a whole.
To all who commented on my writings, thank you. To all who made their contributions even when they differ from mine. Thank you.
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