A letter to all South Africans

My Grand daughter, Jade the fisherman, great to be in South Africa

Here is something interesting; it is a speech by Guy Lundy of Dimension Data Business Solutions:

Below is a speech I gave the other night. It went down so well with the audience that a number of people asked me for copies of it. So I thought I may as well share it with other people too so they can spread the message,
especially those living overseas and those who care about spreading a positive message about South Africa.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Many years ago I was an exchange student in the USA, and every morning in my school, as in all schools across America, all classes came to a halt as the Pledge of Allegiance came over the loudspeaker system and every student stood to repeat these words.

I was quite amazed by this display of daily brainwashing in so-called "land of the free". But in hindsight it isn't actually that amazing, because we've all experienced how Americans are just so proud to be American. No
matter how big their problems, and heaven knows they've got a lot of them, Americans will still spend hours telling you how fantastic their country is, and in fact, how it is better than, pretty much anywhere else in the world.

What a contrast then, when I later spent a few years in London and I ended up actively avoiding other South Africans. Why? Because frankly their negativity about our homeland irritated me so much! These people who will gladly put new South African flags on their cars and support a whole cottage industry importing biltong and NikNaks to munch on as they cheer on the Springboks at Twickenham, will spend hours telling anyone who will listen just how awful it is in South Africa, how lucky they are to be in London and how they are never going back because it's in such a mess. At the time I put it down to the fact that they were justifying why they were
holed up in their dingy little flats under grey London skies while their friends and family enjoyed the sunshine on Camps Bay beach. However, when I came home, expecting to be greeted by the smiles of new South Africans
everywhere, I was very disappointed to find that exactly the same attitude is pervasive right here. The number of people, who asked me why I came back here and why on earth I had brought my French wife with me, simply amazed me. I would have thought the answer was perfectly obvious.

I was later very disturbed, although not surprised, to hear that our president found it necessary to make a point to South African businessmen that they should stop running down their own country on overseas business trips. Can anyone tell me what it is that makes sense about running down your own home to foreign people that you would like to visit here and invest here?

It seems to me like inviting your boss to dinner at your house in the hope of getting a promotion but discouraging him from coming because you're a terrible cook and your dog bites. Yes, we have problems, but so does everybody else. Sure, the Rand is down the toilet, but if you look closely enough, you'll see that just about every other emerging market country has suffered from the same woes - and that includes Australia and New Zealand,
which everyone seems in such a rush to get to. And aren't we lucky that we aren't living in Argentina with their currency crisis? Sure, our neighbour, Zimbabwe, is run by a mad, despotic fool, but man am I glad that I'm not a
Pakistani. We have AIDS and we also have an army of people trying to find a cure for it * possibly more vigorously than anywhere else since we have the most to lose from it. We do have corruption, and the Americans have George W. Bush, whether they like it or not. We've got all sorts of problems, yes, but must we be so hard on ourselves? In many ways we are far better off in South Africa as a whole than we have been at any time in our history.

Our people are getting educated and housed at a world-beating rate, we have amongst the world's cheapest electricity, our inflation is the lowest it's been in my lifetime, we have an economic growth rate and there is development everywhere you look.

We have so much going for us; we have so many good people, such an interesting mix of cultures; we have so much beautiful countryside and natural resources that we can draw from - we really have such a bright future ahead of us. Let us concentrate on the positive things that surround us every day, the sunshine, the people, the beauty, and the progress. Constantly criticising our country can only do harm for you personally, your personal feeling of happiness and well-being and for the country that you know from the bottom of your heart that you love, otherwise you wouldn't be here.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I implore you, do not run down South Africa, neither at home nor overseas. Become ambassadors for your country. Welcome foreign guests and point out how far we have come and how far we're going to go how they need to watch out for us on the world stage. And if you're overseas on business or holiday (if you can afford it), tell people how much South Africa has going for it and invite them to come and see for themselves.

I have devised my own pledge of allegiance and I'd like to repeat it to you now : "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the Republic of South Africa and to the interesting people, places and idiosyncrasies for which it stands, one nation under several religions, languages and cultures, yet indivisible, with freedom, basic needs and progress for all."

That is my pledge of allegiance to my home, our home. I pledge to help others see what is so good about it.
Our Beloved Country!!! South Africa, almost alone amongst emerging market economies, is set to escape virtually unscathed from the latest bout of investor panic sweeping the developing world's fragile economies (The Times, London, August 2001)

The SA banking sector has been consistently ranked in the top 10 in terms of competitiveness (MD, Switzerland). When Nelson Mandela was inaugurated President in 1994, SA was insolvent (liabilities exceeded assets).

Today the Government's deficit is negligible - one of only a handful of countries in this position. We've had single digit inflation since 1993 - following 20 years of double-digit inflation.

Mortgage rates are at their lowest level since 1988. South Africa is one of only 12 countries, where we can drink water from a tap. Our tap water was found to be the 3rd best quality in the entire world.

Remember 15 years ago, in 1986: A state of emergency was declared White men did two years compulsory military service * 64 184 black people were removed from "white areas" * 3989 people were detained without trial * Our economic growth rate was 0.7 percent - today it is 3% * 64 countries had sports boycotts against SA!!!

South African wines win international awards every year and we have the longest wine route in the world. Nelson Mandela, an international icon of forgiveness, tolerance, and humanity is our favourite son. The Kruger Park has the most innovative management of a national park anywhere in the world - and is the world's most profitable game park. Eskom is the largest producer of coal-fired electricity in the world and South Africans pay the least for electricity in the world. South African Breweries is the 4th largest brewer in the world and produces over 50% of China's beer!

Mercedes Benz C Class, BMW 3 Series and VW Golf/Jetta vehicles for all right-hand drive markets throughout the world are produced in South Africa. Didata grew from a local IT service provider into a huge, global networking company with branches in 30 countries. The Cape Peninsula has more species
of plants here per hectare than any other area of the world.

Magnificent highways, warm, friendly, vibrant rainbow people! The world's most progressive Constitution Kreepy Kraulies - a South African invention - Mrs Ball's chutney and biltong. The world's best looking population.

"For every guy who holds up a gun, there are 99 who hold out a hand of friendship" - Dennis Beckett, journalist.

This is something I've never done, but after reading this, all I ask from you is to send this on, to your friends, family and others. Let us in this way deal with our negatives and let us try to be positive. By being
positive we can continue to go far in life and we can all strive for a better and more positive life and country.

Regards to you all, peace, and positive thinking - that's the way to go!

The Series is level Pakistan vs Proteas

THE CHEETAH

Well we were right I am sorry to say, Bagful of excuses and hot air, play properly for a few days and I can not believe that the best South African Crickets are being played?

Shoib going back home due to an injury??? Me thinks that the doping case and Wada has something to do with it. Pakistan and World cricket want him at the World Cup, so deals will be made.


The Third and final Test is to be played in Cape Town, take a look at what is available and accommodation

The Proteas will make changes to the side, however, it is very convoluted. De Villiers is not the right player to open, Gibbs doesn't want to, his appeal is imminent, so he could even miss the Test.

Captain Smith is battling, so not much there, maybe Boeta Dippenaar or Jacques Rudolph, both have not done to much in the Local scene. OH MY THE CUPBOARD IS BARE!!!!!!!!!

Your views are welcome.

The Second Test Pakistan vs Proteas 19 January 2007 still in the DARK

Yesterday,s Nationwide power outage must have dimmed the Proteas vision for the second test.

If the Proteas thought that they could go through the motions in this test and then win and allow their top players to rest in the third test to be held in Cape Town, well they had better rewrite the script.

In the matter of a few overs after lunch on the first day, they had amassed the magnificent score of 124 ALL OUT. YES IT IS TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We never learn, talk a good game and yet to deliver, besides one mad one day game, against Australia, which was memorable and discussed in my blog Cricket World Record South Africa vs Auz.

Against Sri Lanka, we were hammered and could not wait to come Home and the bombings were a blessing for the Proteas and this excuse was perfect and Home we came. It should be remembered that South Africa had its fair share of bombings in the past and we told the World that there was nothing to fear.

What difference a generation makes!

Then against Auz, we were put firmly back into the also ran Nations status, from second best to last besides the real minnows. Talk about playing BRAVE cricket, please no more talking, only courage and determination. Stop making World Cup advertising and worrying about the $$$$$$$$$$$$, play for your Country.

Against india, bowled out for 84!!!!! and lost the first test comfortably, allowing India to win their first Test in South Africa. The excuse was they we were under prepared, Laugh out Loud, a Home series and under prepared, ten days rest prior to the test and days later the adverts are flighted on TV, give me a break. Arrange a game against any side and play, commercial activities first and also please don't expose any players to weaker opposition in case they should fail.

Luckily we rallied and the Indian's capitulated and a face saving series defeat was avoided and all was well again.

In the second and third test when India was playing poorly and the Proteas, bowling much better, speculation abounded about how many runs lead we will make and should we declare when we score 550 runs, only want to bat once and so on.

Go and read the score books, we were always bowled out shortly after a lead of +- 70 runs was amassed or wickets fell at such regular intervals that

How many new batsman have been brought into the squad, their in lies our greatest weakness. No reshuffle the pack and hope like hell.

I do admire the Aussie side, top players are out, new ones brought in, they had a hard game today against dear old England, but still win. Co-incidentally, England were also second in the rankings prior to their five nil whitewash.

Aussie have now won twelve tests back to back, yes 12 -0 and don't look like stopping, South Africa are today playing their fifth test in a row and are citing mental fatigue for the wonderful batting performance. Well deary me, what next more pay for less play and vacation time.

I shudder to think what is going to happen in the West Indies, very short memories, we didn't progress when it was held in South Africa, due to a miscalculation with Messrs DUCKWORTH -LEWIS and in a tearful display in rained out Durban, Polly was blamed and eventually the Captaincy taken away from him. What about Management and the many Coaches and other free loaders.

In the Second Test against India in Durban, we had sixteen players in the traveling group, yes 16, more than was taken on long three month tours overseas prior to being excommunicated from world sport. But wait there is more, that a guess how many Top officials/Managers/Coaches/Doctors there were, come on try.

EIGHT

I think you have the gist of the status of South African Cricket at present, and like yesterday in SA, no light is to be seen.

A last comment, what do John Smit, and Graham Smith have in common besides that their names are almost the same and they are the Captains of the Springboks and Proteas respectively.

At post match interviews the excuses are exhausted, but the up side is, that you don't have to prepare your speech!!!!

Now that I got that off my chest please come and visit my beautiful Country, You have not been anywhere until you have been to South Africa.

African Elephant

Noordhoek Horse Riding

The Protea - National Flower of South Africa and name of the South African Cricket Team

Proteas are the poster species for fynbos (pronounced fane-boss). They are indigenous evergreen shrubs with large showy flower heads prized by florists and plant collectors all over the world. The king protea is South Africa's national flower.

For more information and excellent pictures of the Protea and other beautiful South African, Fauna and Flora, visit www.southafricatourismonline.com

Did you know that there are six floral kingdoms in the World and in a small region of the Western Cape lies one of the six floral kingdoms, the Fynbos Biome. This area has over 9,000 species of ants, making it one of the richest regions on the planet when it comes to floral diversity. Most of these plants are evergreen hard leaf, and have fine, needle like leaves. One of these is the well known sclerophyllous plant. Another plant that is uniquely and unmistakably South African is the protea genus. These are flowering plants and South Africa has about 130 different species of these.


The reason that the South African Cricket team is called the Proteas, emanated after the first Free and Democratic Elections were held in 1994, which heralded the abolition of Legislative Apartheid,(Racial discrimination).


Prior to that, all South African Sports Teams were called the Springboks, however, this was seen as racist, as prior to 1994, generally only White people were eligible to represent South Africa.

Consequently, nearly every South African Sports Team, is now known by a different name except the South African Rugby Team.

This concession was largely due to the then President of South Africa, Mr Nelson Mandela, who in the interests of reconciliation of the various race groups in South Africa, allowed the name to remain and wore the now Famous number six, Green and gold Rugby jersey in 1995, when South Africa Hosted and won the World Rugby Championships.

To this day many still say thank you Mr Mandela, South Africa's most famous son.

Thank you and as usual I really want to hear from you

Arnold

Gibbs appeals to ICC Appeals Commission

Gibbs has appealed to the ICC Appeals Commission and it has seven days to ratify the sentence, Gibbs received a two Test match ban. In the interim the ban is temporarily lifted and consequently Gibbs may play in the next Test which beings tomorrow.

The Commission which comprises one person may take evidence telephonically, by video or any means required, including face to face interviews.

The Appeals Commissioner may not be a South African or a Pakistani, however, in the name of sport, with its many quirks and the strength of the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, it is not improbable that Gibbs will receive a slap on the wrists and a smaller pay packet and the Gentleman's Game shall continue, or something similar. Refer to my previous post Proteas vs Pakistan and some reasons for my skepticism.

Sport is littered with farces and match fixing, take the Italian football giants for example , at least with Wrestling you know that the ending has been planned and practiced, BUT LIVE SPORT!!!!!!!!. Should have been a Bookmaker.

As of now the side has not been announced, however, rumors have it that the side will change for the third and final test to be held in Cape Town, provided the series can not be lost, so that the top bowlers, ie. Ntini and Pollock may have a rest prior to the World Cup which starts in March 2007.

South African Cricket - Proteas vs Pakistan 2007

The South African Cricket side the Proteas managed to win the first test in Pretoria by seven wickets.

Unfortunately this victory was marred by verbal abuse against some of the Protea players and you can always rely on Herschelle Gibbs to provide the entertainment. He has now received a ban of two tests for his part in the altercation.

The press has been quite quite about the remarks but here they are ;

" The two comments that formed the basis of the complaint against Gibbs by the Pakistan Cricket Board to the ICC were: “These f…ing animals, they should all be sent to a zoo” and “these f…ing Pakistani animals”.

Gibbs will appear at an internal Cricket SA disciplinary hearing this morning arising out of the same incident.

As usual South Africa leads the way in these matters and at times it appears as if we are the only ones who do so. In this case I refer to our last tour to Australia where racial remarks were made against South African players and no real punishment handed out.

The next test is to be held at St George's Park at the weekend an with the return of Shoaib Akhtar, cleared by the Pakistan Board of any wrong doing after failing a dope test and allegedly incontravention of WADA. Well again different rules for different players, Remember disgraced former now deceased Hansie Cronje, while others get away with similar offences.

Herschelle, some days I don't agree with you or your behaviour, but I support you on this one!!!!!!!! The spectators get out of hand most of the time and expect to get away scot free, also it appears as if you came to Paul Harris's defence, well done, although the language and racial remarks are not acceptable, challenging the hecklers is.

Give them a hiding on the weekend.

Visit to find out more about the Province and Accomodation that is available.

If you are interested in visiting this wonderful Country, go to www.southafricatourismonline.com and find the Accomodation that meets your budget.

Please send your comments, pictures or stories about South Africa.

Thank you

South Africa Online - The beginning

The idea of this blog is to provide information about South Africa and encourage Tourism to this wonderful Country.




The other angle is to encourage the many South African expats to provide their comments and exchange views about their new Country and lives. This will be the "Homesick" outlet.

Please take part and send me any pictures, stories, achievements and the like for publication.

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE HOMESICK, WELL VISIT www.southafricatourismonline.com

Thank you

IF YOU ARE STILL NOT CONVINCED, or need more information contact me by an email to Email me!


Arnold