Bric’s must translate into practical value for ordinary people
From experience I know most people consider conferences/seminars a waste of time, energy and taxpayer’s money as it does not reduce the cost of living or anything where poverty runs amok.
This may sound silly but we have sent delegations to Davos and elsewhere over so many years but nothing has ever materialised from that. Perhaps a few benefitted at taxpayer’s expense but it’s time that we give up the pretence that these conferences have value to ordinary people. We have a jobless rate of nearly 50% and it is not helping anyone to pretend that Davos etc. has helped.
What is required is practical and realistic outcomes that benefit the 50 million South Africans.
Example, since Russia is a major oil producer, can Russia help South Africa with cheap fuel so we can reduce our transport costs. Since Russia has excess grain, can Russia help reduce the price of bread?
Since China has so much money, can China establish a bank in every metro in South Africa where they can grant home loans at 5% instead of the current 12%. Why must we pay so much interest on a home loan when the bank owns the house until the debt is paid and can evict when debt is unpaid.
Ordinary people are suffering whilst “so called” leaders attend global meetings at taxpayer’s cost.
What is the value of being “pals” with China or Russia but they charge us the same they do western nations. A friend suggests better rates otherwise what is the actual value of the relationship?
For South Africa to continue with Bric’s and whoever else wants to join, ordinary people must benefit. The purpose of Bric’s cannot just be to show western nations the middle finger.
We want affordable petrol and bread and home loans, otherwise Bric’s is nothing more than an alumni for wealthy old farts that have stolen from their taxpayer’s as is evident in South Africa.
People do not care if an oppressor is black, white or brown, we want an affordable quality of life.
We have many black billionaires but few think about generating affordable grain, establishing factories to make affordable bread. Do wealthy blacks really care about people, I do not think so.
If wealthy blacks did care about poor blacks let them take advertise in the Argus and tell us what businesses or opportunities they created that reduced employment or reduces the cost on basic products. Why must ordinary people be proud of wealthy blacks when the behaviour of wealthy blacks are no different from wealthy whites? An oppressor is an oppressor and colour has no role.
Cllr Yagyah Adams
Cape Muslim Congress