To Leave South Africa

Leaving South Africa - Not an Easy Decision

What a hard decision to make. To leave or not to leave... It's not easy to decide to leave South Africa. In fact it's darn difficult. From some aspects the decision is easy, pack up and go. On some days I could jump up and say, I'm leaving. Yet  other times the lure of South Africa remains strong.

Opportunity Knocking

When opportunity comes knocking at the door one would think it's an easy choice to make. Go with the opportunity. And opportunity came knocking with the offer to move to the USA, not as a visitor, but a real legal work Visa.

Nightmare at Work

Having just completed a really awful project it's time to rant. Last month I was asked to quote for DTP services to set 32 magazine pages ready for printing. As the request came through an existing client appointed by the primary contractor as project manager, I agreed to undertake the job (I exited the publishing game a year ago). 

Inaccurate or Misleading Job Specification.

The provided information was sparse, so my quote was very specific; produce press-ready pdfs from DTP ready material supplied by (original) customer including approved text copy, images/photos/graphics and creative guide. Anything else was mentioned as extra costs e.g. design etc subject to artists quote per item, as per my standard terms of business.

Not mentioned to either my existing client, or myself was the need for weekly meetings with the company for whom the magazine is produced, Also not mentioned was the need to produce creative outlines for pre-approval, source and provide all magazine "theme" graphics, design logos and more...

Evil Wins When Good People Do Nothing

Evil will always triumph when good people stand by doing nothing. This is not an original idea (don't ask me who coined the phrase, but I know I read it somewhere), nevertheless it is as true today as it was when first stated.

As a species we love to chatter, meaningless, futile, sounds emanating from our mouths... We love to moan and complain, espouse the problems of the world. How often do we stand around while evil reigns around us? With our hands over our eyes, over our ears, over our mouths in a parody of the three monkeys 'See no Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil' Oh, yes, we love to talk! But we don't like to do anything, get involved. 

Maybe it's cowardice; we don't want to get harmed, move out of our comfort zone, put ourselves at risk... 'It's someone else's problem'. But what about that loved one, sibling, or even total stranger being harmed in our full knowledge, even maybe in our sight. No, it's not our problem, their are other people whose job it is to do something; the police, a social worker, just not me! Or maybe we just don't care!

Cyclists! Move Over

Move Cyclists to the Other Side

In the interest of cycling safety, move cyclists to the other side of the road. Yes, I mean so they ride facing oncoming traffic! In my, not so humble, opinion this makes perfect sense. Cyclists riding on the right hand side of a road (in regions where vehicles drive on the left) can SEE approaching traffic, and take action easily to avoid danger.

It's been some years since I rode a bicycle (although I'm tempted to take it up again, it's just the traffic situation where I live that puts me off). Even back then, when there was little traffic where I lived, I preferred to ride on the wrong side of the road when possible. Of course the suburban streets were very quiet in those days, and ne'er a traffic cop was seen.

Cyclists Blind Spot

Cyclists riding on the same side of the road as powered vehicles have a blind spot. How many bicycles have rear view mirrors? The only way a bicycle rider can see traffic behind is to turn their heads, taking their eyes off the road ahead.

Better to Work With Offshore Clients

I Prefer to Work With Offshore Clients

I have to admit I prefer having clients in the US of A and English speaking parts of Europe for clients. Now everyone is going to jump up and say it's its because of the currency exchange rate - you earn more money. Well, it's not the reason, and strange as it may sound.


Other may say that's because I can compete more easily with a favourable exchange rate.

I don't earn more money from international customers, if anything my net return is a bit less than for the same work for local clients. Once the currency is converted to SA rands, I get a bit less then the job fee or hourly rate charged to SA customers.

South Africa - Time To Leave

No Future For for Educated People in South Africa

It's sad but true. There is no future for educated people in this country. The ANC government has made that very clear. If you don't believe me, just look around you... Affirmative action means companies are forced to employ workers based on racial factors, not the quality of the individuals work - the best you can hope for is a job doing menial tasks, or if lucky enough to find work matching your skills, for atrocious wages

You ARE Wanted Elsewhere

Other countries want you. They want your skills, your South African readiness to work hard and learn. New Zealand wants you, England wants you...

Other English speaking countries around the world want you. Even Mozambique and Angola want you. It's only your nation of birth that doesn't want you and appreciate your ability...

He Loved His Dogs - Too Closely

Man Charged with Sexual Activities with Dogs

A 23 year-old man was arrested last week on August 15 2012 for bestiality after (allegedly) having sex with two of his dogs. The man (whose name cannot be released at this time as investigations are in progress), who lives in Wentworth Par, Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa was arrested after a member of the epublic contacted the National SPCA.

The Krugersdorp Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit of the SAPS (South African Police Services) went with NSPCA officials to the Wentworth Park home of the accused with a warrant to search the premises and impound the animals.

Three dogs discovered on the premises, an 8 month old female St Bernard, an elderly Boerbul female and a male 3 month old St Bernard puppy were confiscated and handed over to the NSPCA.The dogs were examined by a veterinarian who concluded the female dogs had been sexually abused. The dogs will remain in the custody of the NSPCA pending the outcome of the court case.

Zoophilia is a Criminal Offence

Zoophilia, known more commonly as bestiality is a criminal offence in South Africa. According to Inspector Jaco Pieterse of the NSPCA this type of crime falls under Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007. Fortunately for the dogs involved, the penalty for a conviction under this act are much more severe than the cruelty to animals charges more often laid for abusing animals.

Just Another Blot on A Nation Ridden with Sexual Offenders