The Post

A week of ups, downs and everything in between

A MOMENTOUS week – that’s how President Cyril Ramaphosa described the lifting of the remaining Covid-19 restrictions, including the wearing of masks in public. Ramaphosa’s leadership during the pandemic may not have been perfect, but he did guide us through a difficult period and, without him, things could have been a lot worse. For his efforts, he deserves our thanks.

Another momentous event of last week was the release of the final report into State Capture. It took almost four years and cost us almost a billion rand, but still the perpetrators are walking free. Thuli Madonsela, our former public protector, has suggested we offer amnesty for those who agree to tell all. It’s worth considering given that trying to get justice via our courts is going to take many years. The prospect of amnesty may finally unearth some of those small nyana skeletons we have heard so much about.

In the past few years, living in eThekwini has not been for the faint-hearted. The city has lurched from one crisis to another, most recently the floods. But from all the pain there has been one bright light – well, a good few in fact – because Eskom has excluded the city from load shedding. So, while the rest of the country struggles without electricity for prolonged periods every day, we could say there is finally some light in eThekwini.

What we can’t escape is the latest petrol price increase. According to Outa (Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse), petrol is likely to go up by R2.50 a litre in July. It has joined a growing chorus urging the government to rethink the taxes that are charged on every litre of petrol. We fully agree.

The only people who are still doing well in the current economy are those who get paid with our tax money. Recently Parliament announced that the Honourable Members of both Houses (the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces) will get a 3% increase. Our lawmakers last had salary increases in 2019 and it was a measly increase of 2.8% (on a million-rand-a-year salary). We hope that they are happy because most taxpayers can’t be impressed with how this lot carry themselves and how they continue to allow our tax rands to be squandered.

There’s nothing like a bit of escapism and this weekend it comes in the form of the Hollywood BETS Durban July. With Covid a thing of the past (or so it seems), about 35 000 people will pack into the Greyville Racecourse dressed in their finest. For those few hours the general problems of the past few years and those that remain at home and at work (if you’re lucky enough to have a job) will be forgotten. Enjoy – we deserve to be happy even for a few hours.

Opinion

en-za

2022-06-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-06-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thepostza.pressreader.com/article/281685438532993

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