The Election Campaign Laid Bare

Does the party I'm voting for, steal my money?
     That should be the question every voter should ask him or herself in the polling booth on 8 May,  the political and investigative journalist Pieter du Toit advised the club in his talk last week.
     It was a robust talk and left much to think about for the members and guests.
     He spoke about the importance of the first post Zuma election, about the prospects of the three main players in the election (the ANC,  the DA and the EFF) and then the critical question; who to vote for.

Pieter du Toit, assistant editor of investigative journalism at News24 

     The municipal elections in 2017 gave a clear sign that all was and is not well in the ANC, he said. The controversy surrounding then deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas' revelation that he'd been approached by the Gupta family and offered the job of finance minister days before Nhanhla Nene was dismissed from the post, causing turmoil in the markets; the state capture report of then public protector Thuli Madonsela; and the rise of the EFF and Julius Malema all led to a drop in support for the once monolithic ruling party.
     The loss of three important metros (Nelson Mandela Bay, Tshwane and Johannesburg) hurt the ANC.
     He recalled the words of the late leader of the opposition of the 80s, dr. Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert, that South Africa's biggest test would come once it looks as if the ANC could lose power.
     "We're not there yet," he said.

PDG Jankees Sligcher, Pieter du Toit and Ian Widdop after the talk

     The ANC should get about 59% of the vote, which would mean that the electorate did not punish the party for poor performance over the past ten years.
     The party is at the moment deeply divided between a reformist group led by President Cyril Ramaphosa and a group of what he called rent-seekers and corrupt bureaucrats on many levels. People such as secretary general Ace Magashule form part of a significant faction within the ANC that are opposed to any reforms.
     "The ANC knows what he's done, but because he was voted into office, can't get rid of him," he summed up the party's archaic internal procedures.

Helene Bramwell, recently returned from the United States, with President-elect Judy Sligcher

     He called the current election campaign pitiful and heavily reliant on Ramaphosa, but predicted that there would be a hive of activity in the two weeks before 8 May to get the electorate behind the party once again.
     The DA on the other hand, is getting a bit of a raw deal from the electorate, having many successes to claim in the areas where the party has actually been in government.
     "The leadership is not nearly as visible as in past elections and voters are unclear as to which direction the party is following."
     The challenge for the DA is to break out of being a party predominantly for whites, coloureds and Indians and the election will tell if their efforts are seen as being successful.

Peta Thomas with visitors Alfred Kalunga and Thoko Msibi

     As regards the EFF, he said Julius Malema "knows everything there is to know about everyone in the ANC; he knows where the bodies are buried."
     The biggest problem the EFF faces is that of corruption such as the VBS Bank scandal in Limpopo province.
     The EFF has had success in parliament over the last 5 years, but they are "anarchists who refuse to take part in parliamentary politics. It's a dangerous party that doesn't believe in the freedoms that we hold dear".
     On the question who to vote for, he said: "There are 48 parties on the ballot, which says something about the state of our politics. We still don't vote on the real issues facing the country, but for people who look like us."
     The best advice is to ask yourself: Does the party I'm voting for, steal my money?

Dave Tuzewski of Australia explaining Disaster Aid Australia's role in Mozambique

Helping Mozambique
     One of the visitors at the meeting was the Australian Dave Tuzewski of Disaster Aid Australia, a Rotary project. Dave is a member of their Disaster Aid Response Team, whose main object is to provide clean drinking water in disaster areas.
     The are on their way with their Sky Hydrants, which can filter 12000 litres of clean water a day and do not require power or chemicals, or much maintenance, to operate. This is being done with the RI grant to District 9400 for disaster relief and the more than R270 000 collected by District from clubs, business and individual donors.

The cover of the programme for the Night of 1000 PHF

     New member Helene Bramwell visited the USA just after her induction and used the opportunity to attend a Night of 1000 PHF banquet hosted by District Governor Drew Monaghan of District 6990 in Florida.
     The featured speaker was RI president Barry Rassin. Paul Harris Fellows are recognised for donating $1000 to The Rotary Foundation, meaning the combined members had contributed at least $1 million for TRF.
     Many American clubs boast with 100% PHF contributions, something we can only dream about, but should aspire to, at New Dawn.

     Contributions on a smaller scale are often more do-able, such as the Easter Egg drive fronted by Judy Symons to collect Easter eggs for the 100 kids at the Christ Church Christian Care Centre and the folk at Woodside Sanctuary.
     That's a lot of Easter eggs needed to bring a smile to the faces of people to whom an Easter egg is a luxury.
     Judy will be collecting eggs from you - yes, YOU - at the meeting on Wednesday and delivering them on Thursday in time for a bit of Easter cheer.
     Please don't forget to bring some along or failing that, to give a bit of extra cash so that she can go and buy some.
     Linda and I are at Ngwenya Lodge (looking over the Kruger National Park as I write) and will not be at the meeting. PP Carol Stier will chair and hopefully be able to persuade Helene to tell a bit more about the Paul Harris evening.
     Have a good Easter break, everyone.
     A Thought for the Week: If you can't get rid of the skeleton in your closet, you best teach it to dance. - George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)