The South African economy is looking very healthy. The good news is that it is bigger than its three closest African rivals combined …

SOUTH AFRICA is not sub-Saharan Africa’s most populous country, nor its fastest growing, but it remains the largest economy by a long way.

World Bank estimates suggest that South Africa’s GDP was close to $280 billion in 2007, well ahead of oil-rich Nigeria at $166 billion. As South Africans voted on Wednesday April 22nd the rest of the continent watched with care: the fate of the region’s largest economy, and one of the main investors in the rest of Africa, will have a strong impact on its neighbours. Oil and gas play no significant part in South Africa’s economy, but hydrocarbons determine the economic fortunes of Angola (a GDP of $59 billion) and Sudan ($48 billion).

Source: The Economist

Weird that 2 monuments that depict totally different points of view from totally different epochs are situated on hills overlooking each other at Pretoria. Amazing and wonderful that the new monument will stand as an example of the new Nation’s philosophy of Ubuntu.

Freedom Park, Pretoria, South Africa - photo courtesy of Talk Radio 702

The following definition is by the Archbishop Desmond Tutu:

“A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.”

Archbishop Tutu further explained (2008):

“One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu - the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can’t be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality - Ubuntu - you are known for your generosity.

We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.”

Sometimes Capitalism sucks, especially in the present time what with our friends the “Masters of the Universe” USA Bankers almost drowning the world financial system and then having the nuts to wanting doggy biscuits for their efforts.

The Top Star Drive-Inn becomes a walk-in
Photo: Courtesy of Talk Radio 702: John Robbie

But, and here comes the but, it all gets a wee bit teeth-gnashing and mouth-foaming and pull out the old Molotov kit when the money makers go for our own personal “make out” spot.

How on earth can you destroy one of the last remaining Drive-Ins in Jozi, let alone Africa? How do you put a monetary value to one of the last remaining “Original” mine dumps in the City of Gold? How many Cities have a Drive-in smack in the middle of it?

Could it be that our esteemed Tourism Authorities have not cottoned on to the fact that Jozi is one of if not the only major city not built on a natural feature in the world? The only reason it was built was because of Gold and to market watching a movie on a mine dump above a City “open air” on a deck-chair and braai some meat could be harder than sending people to Sandton or Monties.
Wake up People, there goes another of our “UNIQUE” spots.

Just love photos - they really give you a different slant on things - especially when you can view things from above - like aerial photos.

Recently came across this pic, taken on a helicopter flight by John Robbie on 16 April 2009 (of Talk Radio 702)and posted on their Facebook Group: Awesome!

Here’s a sneak preview of the new “Calabash”-style stadium called Soccer City, Soweto where the 2010 FIFA World Cup final will be played:

Soccer City Stadium FIFA 2010 under construction