Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Cars without plates - what does this say?
Now, I know that this might seem picky but run with me for a second. I would be willing to stake a little wager that if you were the proverbial fly on the wall at a dinner party or in the office - you'd hear these very same people complaining about the rising levels of crime in our country, and the general lawlessness they've witnessed.
Yet, what example do they set for their children? What message do they convey to their employees if they are business owners? Or to their friends and colleagues? - Do they respect the law and other road users? Do they demonstrate support for law enforcement? Are they upstanding citizens to be respected? Do they have good ethics and morals?
Recently (as in the month of January 2006), a neighbour-friend, and fellow director of our local HOA was peacefully spending time with his family in the early evening. Their peace was shattered by armed robbers entering their home and tying them up with cable ties, and robbing them of many possessions including cars, computers, appliances, and anything easily sold. This was traumatic for him, but more so for his wife and young children who now struggle to sleep.
These incidents may seem unrelated. But are they really? We have many "law abiding" and well-off citizens who show a flagrant disregard and disrespect for the law and law enforcement. Why should others, who would rationalize that their need is greater, then not do the same?
Surely as people who would like to live in a law abiding country, the observance of even the simplest of by-laws should start at home (like charity).
How else will we build a country free from crime? Instead of burning the rainbow.
Friday, November 04, 2005
A struggle for the rainbow
For many years my experience of crime in South Africa has been limited to petty theft, for example a garden hose or the brass numbers off my garden wall. But in this year alone I have been subjected to a break-in to my wife's car; the theft of a laptop from my home-office in the small hours of the night around a month ago (which was miraculously recovered by the SAPS a few days later (WELL DONE Garsfontein police); and just yesterday a business associate had a large piece of building debris senselessly thrown onto his car off a bridge onto the R21 into Kempton Park! This incident nearly cost him his life.
Now, I know that my tiny insignificant experiences are but a big zero compared to the sufferings of others, and I have been fortunate to come off very lightly - but these experiences are all I have - and I share them for what they're worth.
So...
Today on my way to DTI in Sunnyside Pretoria, while sitting in my parked car making a call to a customer (not endangering road users) - I was the victim of a knife point robbery attempt by seven or so young thugs.
The target: my wallet and cell-phone.
My only weapon: my voice.
What followed happened fast. Quickly I clambered into the passenger seat to distance myself from my attackers. Door ripped open. A tug of war for my cell phone, while I unashamedly screamed like a stuck pig to get the attention of passers by. I clung (stupidly) to the phone and my wallet like a leach and screamed some more. Most pedestrians merely looked the other way. They've seen this scene before - many times. But the good guys came running, just as the thugs, nervously reacting to my incessant screaming, merged back into city life - unrecognisable - to try this another day. And maybe kill.
The score: Thugs - nil. Me - extreme anger. With thugs. And with local and national government for lacking the political will to stamp out crime and violence in our country.
Talk does not squash crime!
So why am I writing this? Well, for one thing, to get this off my chest. But secondly, I wish to convey the message that while we have political freedom in this country we are not free from crime, from violence and from corruption. If there is another "struggle" - it should be a struggle against these evils. We, at least the majority of us law-abiding citizens should all be involved in this new struggle as comrades or a volk or a nation. These evils are the BIG ENEMY to us all, irrespective of race, creed, gender or age.
This new struggle is the "struggle for the rainbow" - and the pot at its end.
But do we have the political will? What should we do? Let's find a way to pool our efforts - irrespective of political, economic and other differences to win back the rainbow from the criminals.
Your views are welcome.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Strategy for Christmas
That the silly season is almost upon is evident from shops sprouting plastic fir trees sprinkled with artificial snow in sweltering temperatures of 35°. Very soon many people will be rushing off to sweat in queues along our coast lines instead of sitting in comfortable air conditioned offices. This is referred to as “relaxation”.
For many business owners, this is a period of re-assessment of personal and business objectives, of good resolutions made anew, and perhaps even some strategising. While this yearly strategy work is often useful, a strategy you do not share with your top team is as good as none at all.
A sound business strategy, written down and supported by your management team, and preferably every employee, is more likely to succeed. But this strategy cannot be left to simmer alone. It must be actively managed and cajoled to completion. So when you’ve done your thinking, DO the thing! Think …then do!
But don’t wait too long.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Two wrongs make none right
On 1st September the SA Government once again relented and delayed the implementation of PAIA on smaller businesses. This, no doubt, was amid a veritable avalanche of PAIA manual bearing emails to the SA HRC [The SA Human Rights Commission], probably giving their IT systems a severe case of cyber-indigestion. At the same time CIPRO announced that it would not apply penalties for late submission of annual returns until November.
Sighs of relief and chuckles of jubilation aside, we should be seriously concerned about a few things: firstly, the state machinery has done its image serious harm, and has created a sense, among small business owners, that laws will not be enforced and can be safely ignored. This is faulty and dangerous thinking! As dangerous are those bureaucrats who introduce willy-nilly laws senseless to smaller businesses albeit with the best of intentions.
Let’s be rational please – small business must make itself heard, but must also abide by the laws of the country. The laws of the country must serve its people – including small business which is a major employer and taxpaying base – not only big business and massive egos of the law makers.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Launch of Leutech Brooklyn's Shoe Grit
In South Africa, one of these grains of sand is the PAIA act. That is, the Public Access to Information Act. Or otherwise known as the PAIn in the Ass act - as far as many small business owners are concerned. So what do we do about these nuisances in our lives? Mostly just keep walking, with the irritation between our toes and elsewhere just getting worse.
What are your views on this?
