South Africa's Reputation... Positive σ_σ

I recently read about a survey conducted in an unspecified place or manner, which had declared that South Africa’s general reputation internationally, was positive…. σ_σ

http://za.news.yahoo.com/sa-rep-positive-abroad-090813209.html

It goes on to say how foreigners view South Africa in a favourable light, though there was that little ‘dip’ with the Marikana incident and then the unfortunate scandal with the Oscar Pistorius at the beginning of the year, all was still looking good and then when the good President of the world USA, Mr Barack Obama popped in, while on his way to some important people summit, our popularity seemed to climb higher.

But, then you have the South African peoples who disagree with these faceless foreigners. The people of SA view their country on a very negative scale, disagreeing with the rosy glasses they believe the foreigners have been given.

I’ll be honest; I’m with my peoples on this one. At first I had to think about it objectively, but after reading one of the comments on the article, I realised where my loyalties fall.

That comment went as follows:

‘I honestly think we are so ignorant and not appreciating what our government is doing for this great country ....our government deliver , every1 has a job ,home , books for school ,grants for having babies , hospitals are running proper ,police stations / prisons arent packed everything is just...’

There’s more, but what’s the point? We all know where it’s going to -_-

Are there really such blinded people still around these days, so convinced by lazy attempts at brainwashing, that they argue things that you need only a window or a road to disprove?

I don’t mean to disrespect anyone, but come on!

Foreigners may not stay around here long enough on their holidays to notice, but nationals? Really!? You live here. All it takes is barely a day and 30 minutes or less of news to know how bad things are getting and have been.

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe we live in different countries, or maybe you have not read…-no walked down the street lately.

Unemployment is at its highest and people line the streets looking for piece-work or dark opportunity. Jobs are being given to the wrong people, who are either ‘window-dressing’ or a friend of a friend who might have slept with a friend.

And books for school? You’re kidding right? It was headlines for months how government was failing to deliver books to certain schools, which eventually had to shut down due to the horrible service delivery.

Hospitals aren’t even guarantees for health in some places anymore. An earlier article covers how one minister states herself that the conditions of some health care facilities are so bad it’s inhumane, but what can they do… budget cuts, Oh! And that new house the president just had to buy for wife No. XX…

Oh, let's not forget the other day's article on one of SAPS chief of police being caught without valid documents to actually be in his appointed position. By the way have you even been to a prison lately? Saying prisons aren’t full? Who told you that? If that is empty, then I wonder and quake at the thought of what you consider a full house… O_O

Look, SA isn’t all bad. Our landscapes are breath-taking. Our sunsets and sunrises are unbelievable. Our diverse cultures remain exciting and so enjoyable. Plus we have LIONS, they may not roam the streets and live in our backyards [most days…] but we have them… and the other wild life the foreigners travel forever to see.

But you cannot ignore the fact that we literally have criminals in parliament, not being convicted or tried doesn’t change or wipe away their actions and past. We hold records in being famous for high rape statistics and murder statistics. When people think of HIV/Aids they immediately think of Africa. These are still things out there, but most of all inside our lands.

Smiling pretty for the foreigner’s camera isn’t going to make these things go away, nor will it bring in investors, Mr Trevor Ndlazi. You really think those guys with the money don’t do research before jumping into bed with anyone? They look beyond the smiling photos and no amount of discount on protex soap is going to encourage them to buy into a failing economy, being run by a corrupt government, on the verge of being taken down by its own people.

Just sayin’