Eskom: Where Politics Trumps the Production of Electricity

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 0 Comment

The latest in a long succession of upheavals in the key parastatals relates to the suspension of the CEO of Eskom after being appointed only eight months previously in August 2014. Instead on their focus being the delivery of their services rather it is factional fights and other considerations that take precedence.

At the highest political levels in South Africa, there seems to be no understanding of the fundamental requirements for a sophisticated economy. Surely the ANC should realise that the requirement to provide power to South Africa supersedes parochial political considerations?

Clearly not!  Continue reading

Have we got the balance in life correct?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 0 Comment

In this regard, I am referring not to the work / life balance over which most working people agonise especially working mothers but how we should handle the life portion of the equation. A number of issues crossed my mind over the past week or two which reminded me that either I am focusing on what is truly important due to wisdom – some would call that experience – or due to stage of life – some would call that age.

Main picture: This cat does not accept that a box in which he curled up as a kitten was now too small
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His Master’s Voice: The SABC Betrayed

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 0 Comment

The decision at a meeting of the ANC’s Party Communicators late last week that the SABC’s journalists should be “forced” to give President Jacob Zuma “even more love” on the broadcaster’s channels, is merely a long line in the political interference in the editorial policies of the delinquent and dysfunctional institution.

Before 1994 and the dawn of democracy, the SABC was rightfully regarded as the propaganda arm of the Nationalist Party. Under the tutelage and control of the NP, it was disingenuously called the SABC instead of the Nationalist Party Broadcasting Corporation [NPBC] as that would have been too blatant. Instead the SABC was packed with NP lackeys. The top echelons and their corner offices being reserved for the crème-de-la-crème, the Broederbond.

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My Unintended Journey from Communist to Racist

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 0 Comment

The abhorrent South African tradition of denigrating one’s political opponents by mis-labelling them continues unabated under the ANC. Instead of being castigated as being Communists, white opponents of the ANC are now being labelled as racists and black opponents as white apologists.

The first time that I became aware that I might have Communist proclivities was in the Army at 3 SAI Oudshoorn.  Continue reading

SONA 2015 epitomises everything that is wrong with South Africa at the Moment

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 0 Comment

Most reports have focused on only one or two aspects of SONA 2015. Yet I contend that that it is indicative of a deeper malaise within South Africa at the moment. These encompass the protection of an incompetent leader in Zuma, high-drama within the EFF and the blocking of various signals.

No wonder Zuma was in such an ebullient mood when he was interviewed by the Press Club on Monday. He was apparently unperturbed by the prospect of the EFF attempting to disrupt his State of the Nation speech. Speculation was that either Zuma would pull the proverbial rabbit out of his hat during the speech or alternatively that the ANC had a trick up their sleeve as regards how they would handle any EFF disruption.

Main picture: The violent and forceful removal of the EFF members

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Does the adage “Everything in Moderation” apply universally?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Health 2 Comments

Like all generalisations, the exceptions disprove the rule. In this case does smoking, snorting cocaine or injecting heroin in moderation apply? Certainly not. It probably applies with eating and drinking but what about exercise? Is strenuous exercise good for one’s health?

This maxim is often bandied about as a justification for behaviour that is clearly suspect or injurious to one’s health. Yet those protagonists of its use would never use this saying in other contexts where they disbelieve its veracity.

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Falling Oil Prices: Is that a Good or a Bad Thing?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 1 Comment

Without a doubt all South Africa would concur that it is a positive development. They would immediately point to the price of petrol and, if they were more astute, they might allude to the fact that Eskom is spending R4 Billion per month on diesel to power their “emergency” open cycle gas turbines. On the other hand is this positive affirmation universally true?

Firstly what is driving the price of this finite product down? From a South African perspective portion of the cause is highly illustrative as it is a contentious oil extraction process which is currently under debate.

Main picture: The Saudis have the lowest cost per barrel of oil in the world. Their aim is to destroy the expensive producers such as the offshore oil production and especially the fracking industry in the USA.

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Life Orientation: A Cinderella or Vital Subject at School

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 0 Comment

On initial consideration, my first reaction – like most other people – is to dismiss it out of hand. Upon reflection it could form a vital component in the development of critical thinking skills which is so vital for the inculcation of cognitive abilities.

Being an avid fan of 702 Talk Radio what frequently exasperates me is the facile thinking process that the average person utilises when proposing a solution to a problem. If the presenter attempts to force the listener to be more specific about what must be done to alleviate or prevent the problem at hand, the person is at a loss for words in order to provide any constructive suggestion. Alternatively the suggestions made often have unintended consequences which are worse than the problem being addressed.

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Will Decorum and Reasoned Debate Prevail during SONA 2015?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 0 Comment

Hardly likely! Given Julius Malema’s predilection for spectacle, theatre and outrageous comments this year’s SONA is likely to be accompanied by some form of ructions in Parliament. The ostensible intention will be to embarrass the ANC and Jacob Zuma in particular. With the TV cameras and the world’s media in attendance, what does the natural populist and showman that is Malema have up his sleeve?

Like most South Africans, in previous years I did not even listen or read about it. All that every year’s SONA appears to be is a series of platitudes and a plethora of promises all of which will not be actioned.

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Another example of Eskom’s lack of Maintenance

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 0 Comment

What most consumers of electricity in South Africa are unaware of is that with an installed capacity of 43 000MW, only 32 000MW is available. Of this 10 000MW the majority is not available due to unplanned maintenance; that is breakdowns.

While the newly appointed CEO at Eskom, Tshediso Matona, was last week performing a classic mea culpa by conceding that Eskom’s woes were self-inflicted, Jacob Zuma was telling the denizens of the Western Cape that Apartheid was culpable for the current crisis. On one point Mr Matona was adamant: Eskom had breached the golden rule of plant maintenance in that it had deferred planned maintenance due to political pressure. Examples cited were the World Cup and the 2014 Elections.

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