Highlights since I returned to the southern hemisphere:

1.  I met with Michael Aliber, an academic with the Institute for Poverty, Land, and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at the University of the Western Cape.  He has a PhD in applied and agricultural economics from the University of WI Madison.  Small world.  I may help out with an ICCO study on small holdings and food security.

2.  My car broke down at the Spar (a local convenience store).  Luckily, Gwena was home and came to fetch me.

3.  I had internet access at home for four hours!  (I was finally able to connect after many battles with the wireless.)  There was a massive thunderstorm the same night, and we’ve been without access since.

4.  I’ve decided to move into the Cullen Library at Wits.  Ok, not really, but I plan to spend a lot of time there over the next few months.  They have an impressive collection of books, and the physical building is spectacular.

5.  I hosted a braai at Bentleigh Sunday evening.  The UN attended (including Ms Jacky Burger, Molly Firkaly, and Hugo Tighe).  I’m traveling with Jax, Molly, Hugo, and Alfredo this week.  We fly to Port Elizabeth tomorrow and then we’re driving the garden route (I’m departing from George, the others from Cape Town).

(Me, Jax, and Molly)

In other news, attorneys for ANC President Jacob Zuma have met with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to discuss the allegations of fraud, money laundering, and corruption against Zuma.  The charges stem from the 1999 arms deal.

After a series of controversial comments, including a suggestion that teenage girls who had fallen pregnant should be sent to faraway schools, it is understood that Zuma has been advised not to speak against the country’s human rights culture.

After a period of relative quiet, Zuma almost made a slip during a meeting of traditional leaders and informal sector workers at Qamata Great Place in Eastern Cape yesterday. Speaking on the effect of crime on the community, he seemingly stopped just short of advocating mob justice.

“I nearly said something that I was not supposed to say … and they are here (the media),” Zuma said jokingly.

But later yesterday afternoon, during a mass rally at the Cofimvaba stadium, Zuma could not help but rehash an attack on the Congress of the People (COPE).

He repeated the story of a “lucky donkey” on whose back Jesus Christ rode through the streets of Jerusalem. Zuma said when the people cheered, the donkey thought they were cheering for him, but the animal was mistaken.

“What I mean is that while you are still a leader in the ANC, you are great person but once you leave, you are nobody,” Zuma also said.

The article is here.

And what would happen in the absence of a private system?  No ARVs.  No non-emergency surgeries.  Currently you can get both at private hospitals.

Race-based affirmative action (the Black Economic Empowerment, BEE) was supposedly enacted to help undo the inequalities which exist as a legacy of apartheid.  The FMF argues that apartheid illustrated the reasons why we should not discriminate based on race and that BEE is only continuing discrimination (and not to mention considerable ill-will between race groups).

Eustace caught me off guard the other day when he asked why the U.S. census includes questions on race.  I didn’t have a good reason why the government should collect the data, other than so that we can say, “Wow, our hispanic (or latino) population is growing really fast.”  It makes sense to have the data so that we can explain why, for example, reading scores are low in certain cities (large numbers of ESL students).  Is that the reason why the government collects the data though?  As a South African and as someone who wants less (or perhaps no) government intervention, I understood why Eustace was asking the question.  So really, what does it mean to move beyond race?

Clock-wise, L to R:  Bentleigh (with Milly), the main stairs leading up to my bedroom, my bedroom (tiny!), and the living room.

“A dinner with friends.”  This was my last-minute attempt at a Thanksgiving dinner.  The menu: two chickens (turkeys are hard to find), stuffing, sweet potatoes in orange cups, green beans, cranberry sauce, and of course, pumpkin pie.  Above (L to R): Bronwyn & Jan, Jules, and Elmien.  Man it was hot.

Over 30,000 cyclists competed in this year’s Pick ‘n Pay and Highveld Radio 94.7 km race in Jo’burg.  All proceeds go to a homeless shelter for children.  A few cyclists came in costume.

The EU’s proposed restrictions on insecticides (Oct. 2008) could have serious consequences for the developing world, particularly areas which struggle with malaria.  A move from “risk based assessments” to “hazard based assessments” could effectively eliminate up to 85% of insecticides manufactured in Europe.  The consequences for farmers in Europe and around the world would be significant (especially with the existing food inflation), but millions in developing countries would also suffer as they depend on the agricultural insecticides to fight malaria-transmitting mosquitoes.  160 scientists have signed a petition explaining the health hazards for the developing world.

According to WHO, malaria is the fourth leading cause of death among children under the age of five years old.  Over a million people die of malaria each year.  80% of deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa.

Price: R2,700/mo. = $270.  This huge house is close to Norwood, Killarney, and Rosebank in the gorgeous area of Houghton.  The room is available from the 1st of December.  An incredibly well-run commune, the house is home to 9 young, friendly professionals.  We know that it sounds a little squished, but the house is large and spread out.

A private room

A garden, braai area, and swimming pool

Food: There is cooked dinner from Monday to Thursday (just help yourself when you come home).  There is also breakfast.

Staff: There is a maid 5 days a week for cleaning and cooking.  There is another maid 3 days a week for washing and ironing.  A gardener once a week.

Water, electricity, and phone line included.

Security.

A competition-sized pool table.

For the record, according to nationmaster.com, South Africa has the second highest murder rate in the world.  The top five are Colombia, South Africa, Jamaica, Venezuela, and Russia.

What I wonder about the following story is: 1.  What communication exists between the workers and the employer?  No doubt there is a huge power differential.  2.  How have small businesses have been affected by the labor laws?  Formalizing relationships and adding vacation, over-time, and pensions seems like it would eliminate many part-time informal work. 

A bowling club in upper-middle class Jo’burg suburbia employs two groundskeepers (black, lower class).  A few years back, the club decided to write new contracts with the groundskeepers to be compliant with new labor laws.  Working hours were established, Saturday pay and a half, holiday double-pay, vacation, pensions, and a 4% pay raise.  Recently the groundskeepers went to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) to complain that they weren’t being paid enough.  The CCMA found that their compensation was more than generous and proceeded no further.  The consequences: the groundskeepers then had to pay R500 for the consultation, not to mention the ill-will which was generated in the workplace.

Last week I heard a similar story about a domestic worker who took her employer to the CCMA because she didn’t understand that the employer had put her pension in an interest-bearing account.