And so the weekend starts.

I find it rather funny that all the work deadlines for the quarter always find themselves due in between the myriad of public holidays in and around Easter. If you're an employee, why do you slow down and get less productive, after all there are a lot less days around this month to do what is needed to complete the various things that are required to be finished.

Seriously, and if you're an employer, how do you expect to get any productive work through when, for example, April 2009 has every week being a working day shorter and your employees are acting as though the long weekend's have already started...

Now we all have to slog a little harder to fit what we should do timeously in five days, into the hectic four days allotted - thank you Religion, Government and a complete lack of sense.

Mind you, it's a great time to see one's friends and catch up on the busily frantic last few months, but wait - scratch that because all our friends are away on holiday someplace else... Maybe they're the clever ones.

Moaning aside, it is rather nice to have three and four day long weekends for a whole month, and today it starts with a good afternoon surf, some beer a bit after and time spent with an amazing bunch of people. I'm looking forward to the weekend - lets hope the politics take a small holiday too.

Political Correctness and all that...

Let me start by first saying I'm not a politically minded person in the least. Sure I have an idea of what's current and a notion of the various political standpoints of the many parties - these days it's hard to go anywhere without being bombarded with political rhetoric, that being said I do still have my opinions regarding our democracy and thus I feel I need to comment on the past few months in our sunny Rainbow Nation of South Africa - or is it...

I must say I'm more than a little despondent with the current political systems and structure of government, I mean are we as a country serious about electing someone who is mired by allegations (albeit now withdrawn) corruption charges, who is publicly opposed by Nobel Peace Prize winners and who seems to get out of every sticky situation with unimaginable public support as head of our government? It seems already a certainty but I'm sorry Mr. Zuma, I really can't endorse you as the best possible candidate to lead and represent South Africa.

As for the current ruling party, yes I am talking about the African National Congress. Are we seriously stupid enough to re-elect a government who have made outrageous and ultimately empty promises of upliftment of infrastructure and quality of life for all South Africans including jobs for all, housing, free schooling and decent health care - to date I haven't seen much of these brought to fruition... I mean, for the past four and a half years they have not only had majority, but more than the required sixty-five percent to effect legislation change to the Constitution pretty much unhindered, now I ask - what exactly have they done?

Of late though, there seems to have been a massive drive to improve the roads and infrastructure, and to clarify when I say of late I am in fact referring to the last two months, round about the same time the campaigning for the elections went into full swing - anyone seeing a parallel here? I happened to be watching television a few evenings ago and a teaser for a programme showcasing the government housing programme successes over the last decade - being aired on SABC - promoting the ANC providing low cost housing to people in the townships. More election propaganda?

Needless to say, I have had it with the "look at what we've done" nonsense the current regime and leadership's been punting especially as they really haven't done much that's actually benefited the general populous, myself included, other than demoralise us by embarrassing the whole country in the eyes and general opinion of the rest of the world, it's time to actually deliver on promises you make, take responsibility and bugger the blame card, stop playing family or friend favourites and make appointments based on experience and expertise, lets get the country fixed and give your people something to be proud of again.

This is quite a rant for my first post - and as I'm not very interested in the comings and goings of political circles, it makes me wonder what a more involved person, possibly being more inclined to say or do something is thinking. Regardless, I will be casting my ballot with the rest of the voting public on voting day, just so I'm able to voice my opinions and gripes for the next five years, maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.