The best way to predict the future is to create it.
Peter Drucker

More Positive News

2008-08-27

In this second letter I want to start off with a great positive experience in a neighbouring country - Malawi.  On my visit to Malawi during July I was caught without enough cash and with the time of my departure from Lilongwe International Airport only minutes away.  I had to pay for my rental vehicle plus 5,000 Kwacha departure fee (which I only became aware of at that moment!).  In total I was short of 14,000 Kwacha - equal to about R800.  Without hesitating, the clerk, working at the car hire company, took the money out of his pocket and lent it to me - no guarantees or collateral asked!  The money is equal to about 25% of his monthly salary.  I hope I never forget Emanuel - I still have his sms on my cell phone “ Thanks Sir! God bless you, Good night!”

On the night of 26 August 2008 I listened to the CEO’s of two companies talking on Classic FM - Classic Business.  Siemens’s boss spoke most positively about the South African economy and mentioned that the skills shortage is not a real problem for them as they train more artisans than they need and currently have 600 apprentices in process.  The boss of Eqstra said that they had 200 people in training. He was also most ecstatic about their financial results and of the expected future results.  I speak to business people daily that are working at full capacity.  The financial results of DAWN (Distribution And Warehousing Network Limited) are just one of many impressive results from companies that do not accept the doom and gloom message of the reporting media.  DAWN has adapted to the cash shortage of their resellers by investing in higher stock levels and supplying on a Just-In-Time-basis.  By innovation and hard work they pushed up their turnover by 31% and operating profit increased by 27%. (Beeld 2008-08-27)

The main reason for me starting this website was because of the good work done by especially the Government.  Since I started being aware of all the infrastructure improvements being undertaken all over South Africa it has in fact escalated in volume and intensity.  It would be interesting to know if there ever was a time when so many large projects were in process at any one time in the South African history?!  In Gauteng the dominating skyline for its inhabitants is the rapid progress of the Gautrain and the many main arterial routes that are being upgraded.  Absolutely fascinating. Please note the professional appearance of all the building sites and the workers!  Road signs at all the construction sites are of high quality and well maintained.

On a recent business trip I travelled 2 265 km between 8 and 12 September 2008.  The roads were mostly in a very good to acceptable condition.  My route was N1 to Louis Trichardt (Makhado) area, Tzaneen Hoedspruit, Graskop, Nelspruit, Barberton, Swaziland (Josefsdal Border Post), through Swaziland out by the Mahamba Border Post, Paul Pietersburg, Piet Retief, Ermelo, N4 back to Pretoria.  Only in the Paul Pietersburg area (R33) did I encounter poor road conditions.  But repair work was already in progress on a major portion of the road I travelled.  Near Piet Retief rebuilding of the N2 was carried out by contractors.

I am most impressed by a most incredible traffic occurrence which I encounter most weekdays at the intersection of Estcourt Avenue (a fairly large artery) and Goshawk Street (small side street)  in Centurion.  Motorists travelling in Estcourt stop for cars entering from Goshawk. They let one car enter, carry on, and the next car stops again!  This happens all the time during rush hour, most commendable.

Danie Meyer of the farm Nooyenskopje near Haenertsburg, Tzaneen, has given us the following information:  The electrical Department of Tzaneen in Mpumalanga is delivering a most commendable service.  After-hours the telephone will normally not ring more than 3 times before a real live person will answer you in a friendly voice.  As they service a large area and one with a mountainous area around Magoebaskloof , they often have to service customers in treacherous weather - 24/7/365 - and they do it!  The South African Police Services of Haenertsburg also deserves our praise - not only do they often win the best maintained station in their region, they also deliver a very committed service.  Normally it will take them as long as the driving time to get to the complainant. If all their vehicles are out on investigation, they will ask you to come and pick them up - that is SERVICE!

Enjoy the Day!
Philip Boardman