CHRIS ROPER: South Africa flirts with failure
South Africans are often dismissive of the rest of Africa, steeped in the belief of their nation’s exceptionalism. But the country resembles struggling states more closely than we may want to admit
Last week I had dinner at Le Lagon in Dakar, a beautiful restaurant built out onto a pier in the bay. It’s been there since 1956, an impressive longevity. This was my second visit to Dakar, the first having been about 10 years ago. Weirdly, on that visit I was also taken to Le Lagon, so clearly it’s the go-to place when you’re entertaining visitors.
This is emphasised when you arrive, as the boardwalk leading up to the restaurant entrance has long rows of brass plaques lining each side, with the names of famous visitors emblazoned on them. These range from presidents to cultural celebrities, and though I didn’t take notes, I think I noticed the names of Congolese dictator Mobutu Sese Seko (who famously stole $5bn-$15bn from his people), former French president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing and celebrity fundraiser Bono of U2. Oh, and former German chancellor Angela Merkel...
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.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.