A French reminder that SAs are sometimes be a tad over-critical

By Alec Hogg

Had a wonderful dinner last night with friends from Normandy. He is one of France’s leading exponents in his profession and is seriously considering relocating to SA. Over the past five years my friend has invested heavily in a rundown KZN farm and tells us he’s thinking of selling up in Europe. His daughter, a chic and intelligent young mademoiselle (aren’t they all?) wants to move to Johannesburg. She intends opening a business, introducing highly specialised skills to the local market.

So why, some may ask, do we encourage them? What about rumblings around a Zuma kinsman who is claiming 60 farms close where my friend invested? And why would we support his daughter staking her future in an area run by the apparently dysfunctional Johannesburg Metro?

Whatever whiners suggest, South Africa remains a pretty good place to live. But more than that, we possess probably the best Constitution on earth. The dogs will always bark, but until politicians start interfering with that sacred document – and they’ve shown zero inclination to do so – there’s no need to move any caravans. Also, for all the criticism, Johannesburg works. Most of the robots function most of the time. Most of the roads are pothole free. Most of the streetlights shine at night.

Of course, active citizens should remain vigilant against Drift. We need to keep pointing to broken windows. Within reason. Sometimes it takes a friendly foreigner to remind us we can also be a tad over-critical.