Business Battles for Betterment,

There's an ANC "politburo" deployed to, and now dominating,  the boards of many big businesses which is used as part of a network of people within and on the fringes of government supporting and protecting one another. That was part of the chilling message Wayne Duvenage, activist and chief CEO of Outa (Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse) gave during his talk on the theme of business and government at the meeting last week.

He said South Africans, whether individually or as part of organisations, need to create an appetite to challenge government. "The soft approach doesn't work."

Lots of skills amongst semi-retired and retired people are going to waste. They could be put to good use to improve the lot of ordinary South Africans. "Get involved. Get on board," he said.

                                Wayne Duvenage
   

He called on people to support organisations such as Outa to help them to stand up to government theft, ineptitude and non-delivery.

It is encouraging that at least some business leaders have started to become outspoken about what government needs to change to save the country from the present downward spiral.

He said the ANC government is feeling vulnerable in the run-up to the 2024 election and that the time to act is now. "This is the time for real change."

              Wayne Duvenage accepts a branded Pas Reform umbrella from President Julian Nagy

The governing party is already at it to find ways to fund their election campaign from state coffers even as voters seem to be forsaking them in their millions. The problem is that there is no-one these voters can turn to. Does the DA really think they would now vote for a party with a white male leader?

A soft approach to the government, whether at municipal, provincial or national level, doesn't work.

"It doesn't help us to have a good Constitution which is no use if we don't use it,"

        Christoph Plate, Helene Bramwell and Nyami Channel at the meeting

                  Lucille Blumberg and Paul Kasango

There was a good turnout at the meeting with quite a number of guests. An unexpected arrival was that of Rotarian Christoph Plate, who originally joined from Germany pre-Covid, but who is unfortunately leaving New Dawn at the end of June as he has been transferred out of the country.

                                A delighted Linda Hill with her voucher from Helene Bramwell's The Mask

Last Week: The previous week saw the return of the Bridge Drive, one of the premier fundraising events of the club in the years before Covid drove most bridge players all over the world online, where many of them have remained.

The event at the Ferndale Bowls Club nevertheless managed to attract some 44 bridge players for a morning of either social or tournament bridge and the foundation has been laid for future events in the years to come.

Some R15 000 was raised for the bursary fund.

This Week: There is no meeting on Wednesday morning, it being a 5th Wednesday. There  will be a social meeting at the Parkview Golf Club for drinks on Wednesday evening from 5.30pm. Details to follow.

A Thought for the Week: The best doctors in the world are Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet and Doctor Merryman. - Jonathan Swift (1667 - 1745)