GNU WOLF PACK - Good News! – Penguin Love – African Farmers – Food Wars – SA Inflation – A Decent Life – Eco-revolution – Hooky Street - Letter from South Africa - [07-13-24]

“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.” Let me tell you child. When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.

[A Quote from my valued reader, Hat Tip Ken in USA]: “If there is anything I could say to the folks in South Africa, I would say this:

“You all know as well as the rest of us that sometimes things just ain't fair - but you have been through the school of hard knocks, first-hand, so maybe the opportunity for better outcome awaits you.

Maybe your suffering will lead to better times for many collectively - seems as though the time for better leadership is upon the country you reside in P&S - but compare that with the country you departed - so old in the tooth and stuck in ways proven wrong and known to be as such - but stuck there.....well....I'd rather be in South Africa.”

“Any wolfpack knows – in most hunts you end up hungry - but eventually the wolfpack ALWAYS gets the prey - if not, then tell me why wolves remain today - and they are top notch predators who work together as a unit focused, and who have an important role to play....

I'd rather be wolf than a sheep in need of a shepherd to survive - hell I'd rather be a goat than a sheep, I'd rather be a razorback pig - but I think I'm a wolf and I think the Wolfpack is on the hunt! There is prey to be found. At least goats and razorback pigs know how to defend themselves - sheep on the other hand - they just get taken advantage of it seems.”

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SOUTH AFRICA?

South Africa’s constitution is extremely strong and was constructed out of adversity as all good outcomes often are.  South Africa’s electoral system, as we now know, was carefully considered. The challenge faced by our leaders at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa was to select an appropriate electoral system for a highly divided and unequal society in a process delicate transition.

South Africa is a parliamentary representative democratic republic, wherein the President of South Africa, elected by parliament, is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. It consists of three branches. The executive branch consists of the President of South Africa and the Cabinet of South Africa.

The configuration of an electoral system is of fundamental importance to the nature of a country’s politics, and importantly, the match between the preferences of citizens, the preferences of elected officials, and government's policy direction. South Africa’s ‘proportional representation’ system was selected for its inclusiveness, its simplicity, and its tendency to encourage coalition government.

COALITION IS A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR SA – RISKS & OPPORTUNITES

Despite the alarming struggle for control and influence among South African political parties, the African National Congress (ANC) headed by Cyril Ramaphosa has finally constituted a broad coalition government (Government of National Unity – GNU), contentiously designed to contain rising tension and to integrate rival opposition forces such as the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Inkatha Freedom Party into its fold.

However, expert analysis and narratives indicate that despite this first step towards advancing the main political and economic achievements of the ANC, and the roadmap for sharing power in the next government, and at the same time given the latest emerging political model in the country, there are diverse internal and external implications for South Africa.

• Coalition Government: A Test for South Africa’s Democracy https://www.globalresearch.ca/coalition-government-south-africa-democracy/5860206

SOUTH AFRICA POST-ELECTION FALL-OUT

On April 26-29, 1994, South Africans went to the polls to choose members of newly established national and provincial legislative bodies. A description of the proportional representation system introduced in South Africa's first universal adult suffrage general election is presented here. http://electionresources.org/za/system/

Parliament: South Africa’s Parliament consists of 490 seats. Our ‘bicameral’ Parliament has two houses, a lower house and an upper house. The lower house, or the ‘National Assembly’, represents 400 seats. The upper house, or the ‘National Council of Provinces (NCOP)’, represents 90 seats (10 members from each province). Members to the NCOP are provincial delegates nominated by each provincial legislature. The National Assembly, however, is filled in accordance with the votes cast in the General Election by the electorate.

Elections: The South African electoral system is a closed-list proportional representation system, and a General Election is held every five years. The process is facilitated by the Independent Electoral Commission, which is responsible for ensuring free and fair elections.  At the General Election voters elect the national and provincial legislatures simultaneously. Voters are presented with two separate ballots: a national ballot, and a provincial ballot. These ballots list, respectively, all the political parties competing in the election at national and provincial level. Voters cast one (categorical) vote for the party of their choice on each ballot, as they see fit.

In this system, voters vote for parties, not for individuals. It is the parties' prerogative who it wants in the legislatures. Parties submit to the Independent Electoral Commission – nine provincial lists for the provincial legislatures; and, for the national legislature, nine provincial-to-national (or 'regional') lists and one national list (although a national list is not mandatory). These lists are ‘closed’ and cannot be altered by voters (but are publicised widely for the voter to consider).

At the end of the electoral process, these (ranked) lists are used to fill the seats allocated to each party. The higher up on a list a party member is, the more likely that member is to get a seat. 

The National Assembly  is the decisive house in Parliament and it is here where the executive cabinet originates.  For seats to the National Assembly, only the National ballot is relevant. The National Assembly seats are filled in two tiers: Half (200) seats are regional seats and filled by reference to regional votes and regional lists; the other half (200) are national seats and filled by reference to national votes and national lists (or entirely from regional lists if a party did not submit a separate national list). But first votes must be converted into seats.

Allocating seats.  In order to allocate seats, the number of votes a party received is translated into a proportion of the seats in the National Assembly, first regionally and then nationally.  First, the number of votes equivalent to a single seat must be calculated. Each seat then represents a ‘quota’ of votes. The simplest way to do this is by dividing the total number of votes by the total number of seats (i.e. votes/seats).  In South Africa we use a version of the Droop Quota method.

For regional seats the quota is determined, for each region, by the total number of votes in that region and the total number of seats in that region.  For the national seats, the quota is determined by the total number of votes in the country and the total number of national seats.  Seats are allocated proportionally: the number of seats allocated to a party depends on how many times the party meets a full quota. This is calculated by dividing each party’s share of the vote, regionally and then nationally, by the quotas determined at those levels.

During this process the remainders are set aside. If, after this process, there are unallocated seats, the remaining seats are allocated to the parties who have the largest remainder.  And so the 400 seats for the National Assembly are filled.  Source

• Technical Analysis: https://www.votingmatters.org.uk/ISSUE24/I24P2.pdf

UPDATE – End June 2024 – South Africa's new Government of National Unity (GNU) has expanded to include 10 parties, with more potentially joining.  In an interview with Chris Steyn, United Independent Movement president Neil de Beer discussed the challenges this expansion brings, warning that the "open invitation" for parties to join is closing and possibily causing instability.  De Beer highlights the pressure on the Democratic Alliance (DA) within the GNU and the tension between DA's Helen Zille and ANC's Fikile Mbalula over their agreement. Sources

• The GNU can rebuild a “fragmented, criminalised State” – June 23, 2024 by Chris Steyn https://www.biznews.com/leadership/2024/06/23/gnu-rebuild-state-de-haas

• Coalition struggles: ANC and DA’s significant challenges over ideological divides – Corrigan July 8, 2024 by Editor BizNews  https://www.biznews.com/rational-perspective/2024/07/08/coalition-struggles-anc-da-corrigan

STOP PRESS – TRUE DEMOCRACY WINS IN SOUTH AFRICA

HEADLINE QUOTE – The Economist: “Another SA lesson in democracy for the world - Bravo.”  Praise indeed from the Globalists’ mouthpiece, The Economist!  Cyril Ramaphosa’s re-election as President is set to form a “Government of National Unity (GNU)” anchored by the ANC and DA. This coalition aims to uphold the 1994 democratic values and implement vital reforms. The move reflects a commitment to democracy and showcases the nation’s resilience and pragmatism in governance.

In September 2021, DA Federal Chair Helen Zille predicted the ANC would lose its majority in 2024.  At the time, most observers thought it was wishful thinking.  But Zille was deadly serious, and her party has done a lot of work over the past three years preparing for SA's new Government of National Unity, which promises a new bright chapter for the Young Democracy.  Sealing the deal, however, is touch and go.

In an interview, she unpacks where SA is now and what lies ahead; Zille shares that the GNU was a close-run thing, only helped over the line by unwitting EFF, which demanded a break to caucus ahead of the crucial first vote.

In an interview with BizNews, Zille touched on the influence of Jacob Zuma, noting that despite his controversial past, he retains significant support due to ethnic solidarity among Zulu voters. She speculated on the future political roles of Zuma’s children, Duduzile and Duduzane, suggesting they might continue his legacy.  The interview concluded with Zille underscoring the complexities of coalition politics and the need for patience and strategic action to achieve meaningful change in South Africa’s political landscape.

SOUTH AFRICA IS A BEACON TO WORLD DEMOCRACY

Cyril Ramaphosa was officially sworn-in as President of the Republic of South Africa’s seventh administration at the Union Buildings in Tshwane, Gauteng, on June 19, 2024. This marks the start of the seventh administration of democratic South Africa following the general elections that were held on May 29.

The new administration will be significantly different from those prior, as no single party has obtained a majority to govern independently, thus relying on co-governing agreements.  Source

• The people of South Africa have spoken and they will be heard in a true democracy: https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/777774/ramaphosa-inaugurated-as-president-of-south-africa-this-is-what-he-promises-to-do/?utm_source=everlytic&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=businesstech

NEWS FLASH – Remarkable GOOD NEWS!  Cape Town International and OR Tambo airports make top 10 in global rankings – another win for SA.

AirHelp Inc. has released its 2024 airport rankings, highlighting the best and worst airports globally.  Hamad International Airport in Qatar tops the list, with airport and Chubu Centrair following. A notable improvement for the US, Salt Lake City International ranks 8th globally and best in the US. The rankings are based on claims processed, on-time performance, customer feedback, and amenities across 239 airports, showing SA airports in CT and Joburg in the top ten – YET ANOTHER WIN FOR SA!

FUN TIDBIT

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – IS SOUTH AFRICA THE PLACE TO BE?

As SA enters a new political era, Gareth Cliff’s authentic voice is attracting deserved recognition. A straight-talking media version of rabidly independent financial advisor Magnus Heystek, Cliff’s decade-old business model is steaming ahead, supporting his thesis that independent thought trumps commercially driven narratives.

In the above riveting interview, Cliff draws on his experiences and worldview to explain why SA is a pretty good place to be right now. Source

• Foreigners are flocking to retire in South Africa – here’s why and where they’re coming from https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/780741/foreigners-are-flocking-to-retire-in-south-africa-heres-why-and-where-theyre-coming-from/?utm_source=everlytic&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=businesstech

BREAKING SOUTH AFRICAN NEWS - The BBC is Worried about Farmer’s Climate Scepticism (surprise, surprise!)

Climate change deniers have found a new champion in Kenyan farmer Jusper Machogu.  He has become known as a flagbearer on social media for hydrocarbon fuels in Africa, but there is more to his campaign than meets the eye.  “At first glance, the 29-year-old Mr Machogu is just a young farmer with a knack for social media.

“On X, (formerly Twitter), he regularly posts videos of himself weeding his land, planting garlic, or picking avocados and offering viewers a window into his life in rural Kisii, south-west Kenya.

While farming content may get him clicks, likes, and retweets, it is Mr Machogu’s denial of man-made climate change that has helped supercharge his online profile.  Since he began posting debunked theories about climate change, he has received thousands of dollars in donations – some of which came from individuals in Western countries linked to fossil-fuel interests. Mr Machogu insists this has not influenced his views, saying they are genuinely held.

Scientists have proven that the Earth is heating up because of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels – like oil, gas, or coal.

But Mr Machogu disagrees. “Climate change is mostly natural. A warmer climate is good for life,” Mr Machogu wrongly claimed in a tweet posted in February, along with the hashtag #ClimateScam (which he has used hundreds of times).” The captured BBC reported. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c133r4gyx1no

The BBC’s disinformation expert then goes on to write an extremely long “hit-piece”, itself full of BBC disinformation. I would not even bother reading it – it’s the sort of juvenile rubbish a Sixth Former would write. In particular it investigates the tiny amount of money Mr Machogu has managed to raise.  The whole point of the article is of course to condemn any Africans who have the temerity to want to use fossil fuels. Machogu responded forcefully with a series of Twitter posts:  https://x.com/JusperMachogu

“You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”  [Abraham Lincoln] (BBC take Note!)

SURVIVAL MONITOR - OFF-GRID LIVING

As Western Society descends into chaos, vast numbers of people are choosing to pull the plug, walk away, and move to off-grid living.  Of course it is nearly impossible to completely escape the ubiquitous consumerism madness that is seemingly all around us, but many are finding that an “off grid” lifestyle gives them the best opportunity to insulate themselves as much as possible.

When you become less dependent on the system, what happens to the system has fewer impacts upon you.  Unfortunately, it appears that the Western system is heading into a full-blown meltdown, and a significant portion of the population is feverishly making preparations in anticipation of what is coming. Sources

• Hundreds of Thousands of Americans are Going “Off Grid” in Anticipation of what is Coming  https://www.theburningplatform.com/2024/06/22/hundreds-of-thousands-of-americans-are-going-off-grid-in-anticipation-of-what-is-coming/

• DISCUSS: Are they prepping for Plandemic 2.0?  https://off-guardian.org/2023/08/22/discuss-are-they-prepping-for-plandemic-2-0/

LOOK OUT SA – THE WEF GLOBALISTS ARE AFTER YOUR FOOD CHAIN!

There are 13 Western Countries, including the United States, who have signed a WEF treaty to engineer what they are calling an “ethical global famine” as part of the World Economic Forum support for UN Agenda 2030 but they haven’t reckoned the BRICS+!

The following countries have agreed to orchestrate a “controlled demolition” of the agriculture industry (‘worldwide’?), while ushering in starvation and famine for humanity:

• United States

• Argentina

• Australia

• Brazil

• Burkina Faso

• Chile

• Czech Republic

• Ecuador

• Germany

• Panama

• Peru

• Spain

• Uruguay

Naturalnews.com reports: A loss of meat production from Australia, Brazil and the U.S. alone would be enough to starve countless people, not to mention all the other foods that are raised and grown in these three countries.

Citing “climate change” and “global warming” as the reasons why such drastic measures must be taken, the Globalists behind the climate scam are pushing the notion that agriculture, including animal rearing, must end in order to prevent animal flatulence from heating the environment.  “I am glad to see the shared commitment by the international community to mitigate methane emissions from agriculture as a means to achieve the goals we signed for in the Paris Agreement on climate,” said Luis Planas, Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in a statement.  Marcelo Mena, CEO of the Global Methane Hub, of course agrees.  “Food systems are responsible for 60 percent of methane emissions,” Mena explained in an announcement.

Without farms, there is no food. period.  Over the weekend, Vice President Kamala Harris made a statement of her own calling for a “reduced population.”  This can be accomplished in part through the destruction of the global food supply.  The latest version of the global warming narrative is that food itself causes it. Apparently, the entire world must go back to stone age with a hunter and gatherer society and very few actual people remaining in order for the planet to “cool” itself down and return to “normal.”

“Mitigating methane is the fastest way to reduce warming in the short term,” claims former presidential wannabe John Kerry, who continues to be one of the loudest purveyors of global warming propaganda.  “Food and agriculture can contribute to a low-methane future by improving farmer productivity and resilience. We welcome agriculture ministers participating in the implementation of the Global Methane Pledge.”

Part of the Global Methane Pledge, by the way, involves transitioning the world from eating real foods like beef and chicken to instead consuming crickets and insect larvae, which are toxic and non-nutritious to humans.  As you can clearly see with the ongoing inflationary trend, which appears to be hyperinflation in slow motion, we are reaching a point where meat and food in general will become so unaffordable for the average person that many will have no choice but to try bugs, assuming they want to continue living in such a world.

“We can presume from this language that among the practices being considered are replacing a major portion of the beef and dairy cattle, pork, and chicken stocks that populations rely on for protein with insect larvae, mealworms, crickets, etc.,” says journalist Leo Hohmann about what the Global Methane Pledge entails.

The UN, World Economic Forum, and other NGOs have been promoting meatless diets and the consumption of insect protein for years, and billionaires have invested in massive insect factories being built in the state of Illinois, in Canada, and in the Netherlands, where mealworms, crickets, and other bugs will be processed as additives to be inserted into the food supply, often without clear labels that will inform people of exactly what they are eating.”  Source

• 13 Countries Sign WEF Treaty To Engineer an ‘Ethical Global Famine’ - via #planettoday: https://www.planet-today.com/2024/06/13-countries-sign-wef-treaty-to.html

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT! - Dr. Steven Gundry, MD is one of the world's most celebrated pediatric heart surgeons, and the author of the best-selling book "Dr. Gundry's Diet Evolution."  VIDEO HERE.

We all know the problem of ‘The Future of Food’.  So, who’s ready for the solution? Today on #SolutionsWatch, James examines regenerative agriculture, one of the solutions that is already being used to wean us off the industrialised factory farming system and back toward a healthy relationship with our food and with the earth itself. Source: https://off-guardian.org/2024/06/21/watch-regenerative-agriculture-solutionswatch/

PEOPLE! We do have options and we can prevail against this Globalist onslaught and it’s easy BUT ALSO difficult.  I owned my own self-sufficient smallholding (2 acres) for 25 years in SW England and I can tell you it’s bloody hard going!  When the going gets tough, the tough move:  https://austrianpeter.substack.com/p/the-financial-jigsaw-part-2-localisation?s=w

INFLATION  - South Africa Inflation Rate Steady at 4-Month Low of 5.2%

NARRATIVE BATTLE –  What you need to earn to live a ‘decent’ life in South Africa

New data from the Living Wage South Africa Network noted that the average South African should earn at least R15,000 per month if they are to live a “decent” life.  According to Ines Meyer, the Network’s spokesperson, this amount is what the group considers a “living wage”, which is sufficient for a worker to provide themselves and their family with the basic necessities of life and save something for the future or to cover unforeseen emergency expenses.  Source

• The data from working individuals across South Africa between November 2023 and January 2024 establishes that workers require at least R15,000.00 per month if they are to live a decent life  https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/777865/what-you-need-to-earn-to-live-a-decent-life-in-south-africa/?utm_source=everlytic&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=businesstech

FINALLY – A THOUGHT – Is South Africa  leading the Eco-Revolution?

“OUT WITH THE NEW; IN WITH THE OLD” – The Rise of a R10 billion Economy in South Africa.  “The landscape of sustainable fashion in South Africa has completely transformed over the past decade,” said Aune Aunapuu, CEO and founder of Yaga, the fastest-growing marketplace for selling and buying second-hand fashion in South Africa.

According to ThredUp’s annual Resale Report, published to track trends in the second-hand and resale sectors, the market grew significantly faster than the broader retail clothing sector in 2023.

This is the essence of the off-grid economy in SA is worth over ZAR1 trillion, “under the radar”, “No Income Tax, no VAT”!

COMING NEXT:

• BOOM Weekly Global Review - Tuesday, July 16, 2024

• The Financial Jigsaw Part 2 - Chapter 5 – CONSCRIPTION – Saturday, July 20, 2024

REFERENCES 

• My Book: “The Financial Jigsaw” Parts 1 & 2 Scroll:   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358117070_THE_FINANCIAL_JIGSAW_-_PART_1_-_4th_Edition_2020   including regular updates.

• BOOM Finance and Economics Substack (Subscribe for Free) - also on LinkedIn and WordPress. Plus Covid Medical News Network CMN News  and BOOM Blog -- All Editorials (over 5 years) --  BOOM Finance and Economics | Designed for Critical Thinkers — UPDATED WEEKLY (wordpress.com)