Ideas for a Brighter South Africa
26th July 2017 – Ideas for a Brighter South Africa
South Africans have become very internally focused. They seem completely oblivious to what I like to refer to as the “global inexorables”: population change, urbanisation, climate change, low cost renewable energy, mass data storage and mining, automation induced unemployment, growing inequality, globalisation and the end to growth. Our political leaders seem incapable of understanding let alone addressing any of these. Maybe it’s time ordinary South Africans started telling politicians what we want so they can include our ideas in their 2019 manifestos before we vote. Here are some personal thoughts to get the ball rolling.
Pay a basic monthly income into the bank accounts or phones of all South African residents. With 30% unemployment; 16 million on social assistance; millions caring unpaid for children, the elderly and the infirm; students not making ends meet; and increasing numbers displaced by automation, this would meet a basic need. The grant would be funded through a much reduced bureaucracy; eliminating other subsidies and grants; higher income taxes; and taxes paid by retailers benefiting from the added consumer spending. Other benefits could be lower crime levels, reduced domestic violence and elimination of beggars on street corners. The indigent would no longer have the indignity of means tests or compulsion to join the bakkie brigade. Artists and entrepreneurs would have a safety net.
While accelerating the transfer of ownership of township houses, at the same time transfer the ownership of housing and land in the former homeland areas to those living and working there. The new owners would be able to mortgage their properties or sell and move to a better life in the city. They would have the incentive to upgrade their properties. Teachers and medical staff would be able to own housing in the communities they serve. Entrepreneurs could set up rural businesses. Local farmers could consolidate properties to create successful farms on some of South Africa’s richest soil.
Use South Africa’s unique features to lead the world in low cost renewable energy. Manufacture and export renewable energy infrastructure to Africa and beyond. Close coal mines and coal fired power stations. Redeploy mineworkers on mine rehabilitation and renewable energy projects. Hive off power stations from Eskom and make it a focused smart network operator. Close Mossgas and liquidate the CEF group of companies. Scrap new refinery build plans and fracking. Benefits include elimination of both Mpumulanga’s deadly pollution and the country’s huge oil import bill. And cheap energy from the sun to drive the economy.
Encourage the manufacture of electric vehicles. Raise fuel taxes so freight moves to a streamlined electric train system. Give metros control of their local train and bus services. Privatise SAA, Denel, the Post Office, Telkom and all other parastatals which are not loss making natural monopolies providing essential services. Facilitate the roll out of cheap, universal wi-fi.
Raise education levels and deploy the best of Finnish, Slovenian and Singapore education practices. Tap into the glut of highly qualified young teachers in North America and Europe who are unable to find jobs in schools there. Partner with the private sector to train medical and care professionals. Expand the tourism sector to provide retirement homes for the growing band of first world pensioners wanting sun, sea and personalised care. Open the door to overseas entrepreneurs and academics spurned by Europe and the USA.
Change the electoral system so that parliamentarians are responsible to voters and not party and president. Re-adopt a clear foreign policy based on human rights and support for the undertrodden in Africa and abroad. Appoint people who are competent and honest to positions of responsibility. Finally work in a way that is inclusive and not adversarial, setting one South African against another as happens right now.
South Africans have become very internally focused. They seem completely oblivious to what I like to refer to as the “global inexorables”: population change, urbanisation, climate change, low cost renewable energy, mass data storage and mining, automation induced unemployment, growing inequality, globalisation and the end to growth. Our political leaders seem incapable of understanding let alone addressing any of these. Maybe it’s time ordinary South Africans started telling politicians what we want so they can include our ideas in their 2019 manifestos before we vote. Here are some personal thoughts to get the ball rolling.
Pay a basic monthly income into the bank accounts or phones of all South African residents. With 30% unemployment; 16 million on social assistance; millions caring unpaid for children, the elderly and the infirm; students not making ends meet; and increasing numbers displaced by automation, this would meet a basic need. The grant would be funded through a much reduced bureaucracy; eliminating other subsidies and grants; higher income taxes; and taxes paid by retailers benefiting from the added consumer spending. Other benefits could be lower crime levels, reduced domestic violence and elimination of beggars on street corners. The indigent would no longer have the indignity of means tests or compulsion to join the bakkie brigade. Artists and entrepreneurs would have a safety net.
While accelerating the transfer of ownership of township houses, at the same time transfer the ownership of housing and land in the former homeland areas to those living and working there. The new owners would be able to mortgage their properties or sell and move to a better life in the city. They would have the incentive to upgrade their properties. Teachers and medical staff would be able to own housing in the communities they serve. Entrepreneurs could set up rural businesses. Local farmers could consolidate properties to create successful farms on some of South Africa’s richest soil.
Use South Africa’s unique features to lead the world in low cost renewable energy. Manufacture and export renewable energy infrastructure to Africa and beyond. Close coal mines and coal fired power stations. Redeploy mineworkers on mine rehabilitation and renewable energy projects. Hive off power stations from Eskom and make it a focused smart network operator. Close Mossgas and liquidate the CEF group of companies. Scrap new refinery build plans and fracking. Benefits include elimination of both Mpumulanga’s deadly pollution and the country’s huge oil import bill. And cheap energy from the sun to drive the economy.
Encourage the manufacture of electric vehicles. Raise fuel taxes so freight moves to a streamlined electric train system. Give metros control of their local train and bus services. Privatise SAA, Denel, the Post Office, Telkom and all other parastatals which are not loss making natural monopolies providing essential services. Facilitate the roll out of cheap, universal wi-fi.
Raise education levels and deploy the best of Finnish, Slovenian and Singapore education practices. Tap into the glut of highly qualified young teachers in North America and Europe who are unable to find jobs in schools there. Partner with the private sector to train medical and care professionals. Expand the tourism sector to provide retirement homes for the growing band of first world pensioners wanting sun, sea and personalised care. Open the door to overseas entrepreneurs and academics spurned by Europe and the USA.
Change the electoral system so that parliamentarians are responsible to voters and not party and president. Re-adopt a clear foreign policy based on human rights and support for the undertrodden in Africa and abroad. Appoint people who are competent and honest to positions of responsibility. Finally work in a way that is inclusive and not adversarial, setting one South African against another as happens right now.
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