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Allister Sparks published an article in the Cape Times (09.04.2014) covering the proposals that the DA rising star in Gauteng Mmusi Maimane, made before a packed audience of 8000 people. Perhaps Mr. Spark’s article was syndicated in the Gauteng area, perhaps not. As Mr. Sparks pointed out, Maimane’s presentation was poorly taken up by the general media, which amazes me, as the ideas Maimane presented, are sensational and revolutionary in a good way.
Go Gauteng, Go! There are Spectacular Political Ideas Out There!
Brilliant ideas should spread like wild fire; unhappily this appears not to be the case in SA. Possibly we are suffering from too much Oscaritis and coming shortly as new disease called Dewanitis.
Maimane promised to give the black people of Gauteng the homes they are living in and the title deeds to certify ownership. Folks, this is dynamite because the informal ownership will become formal!
What will this achieve? Firstly it will allow the new house owners to go to the banks for credits, whether this is for the starting of a small business or home improvements. One of the first things one does when one becomes a house owner are house improvements and this means jobs, jobs jobs for the surrounding community, who are sure to use their own local people. With this move local black people will have the first step to get out of poverty and go skywards. Sensational!
Formal ownership is also the first step in closing the wealth gap between the haves and the haves- not in SA.
These clever ideas come from the Peruvian economist Hernando De Soto’s book “The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Elsewhere”. (My copy is still on order). De Soto calls ownership “the hidden architecture” of modern economics, and here lies the key.
This makes great sense because one of the big changes coming to Africa in the next 20-30 years is a huge population explosion and the continued land flight that we are already seeing, is going to skyrocket. (Taken from Professor Robert Rotberg from Harvard University series of lectures at the UTC “Africa on the Rise). All actuarial evidence available supports these predictions; rural Africa as we know it is on the descent.
I cannot close without mentioning briefly the other innovative changes the DA would implement: -
1. Old and unused buildings would be renovated and rented out to aspirant black entrepreneurs for just R1 for one year. Go for it Gautengers!
2. A single” oyster card” for trains, buses and Rea-Vaya transport. Pensioners and unemployed could travel free. Man, just think of that!!
3. No one convicted of fraud could hold office in a DA government!
4. No more lavish parties for politicos, no swanking cars……….wow!
5. Transparency with tenders!!!!!!!
Gautengers, you have it all in your hands. You have everything to loose but so much to gain, so put your cross in that spot where you and your community can only win.
