Our ‘rainbow nation’ glue created in 1994 seems to have evaporated
07 November 2022 - 16:59
byAndy Clay
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
My main business interests are in the minerals, oil & gas, energy and finance sectors, and I have seen the best of those industries during my career. But all are now under threat.
The network I have is global, and whenever people are dealing in developing countries, particularly Africa, there is a common thread of pure frustration at the incompetence, inefficiencies and corruption of not just state officials and civil servants, but the people in general. One such business friend summed it up in that “they have a pure don’t care attitude”.
From airport immigration and security to the department of mineral resources & energy, the police and people throwing litter in the streets, this attitude is insidious. There is no pride in the workplace, commitment is rare and loyalty just doesn’t seem to exist.
How can we expect this to change when the leaders are only in it for themselves and are the most corrupt? Countries with strong nationalist cultures like America and China show what is required, but our “rainbow nation” glue created in 1994 seems to have evaporated. Sad.
Andy Clay Via email
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
LETTER: ‘A pure don’t care attitude’
Our ‘rainbow nation’ glue created in 1994 seems to have evaporated
My main business interests are in the minerals, oil & gas, energy and finance sectors, and I have seen the best of those industries during my career. But all are now under threat.
The network I have is global, and whenever people are dealing in developing countries, particularly Africa, there is a common thread of pure frustration at the incompetence, inefficiencies and corruption of not just state officials and civil servants, but the people in general. One such business friend summed it up in that “they have a pure don’t care attitude”.
From airport immigration and security to the department of mineral resources & energy, the police and people throwing litter in the streets, this attitude is insidious. There is no pride in the workplace, commitment is rare and loyalty just doesn’t seem to exist.
How can we expect this to change when the leaders are only in it for themselves and are the most corrupt? Countries with strong nationalist cultures like America and China show what is required, but our “rainbow nation” glue created in 1994 seems to have evaporated. Sad.
Andy Clay
Via email
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
LETTER: ANC cannot use the just transition to hide incompetence
KASHIF WICOMB: Probe will aid professionalisation of public service, fight graft
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.