The sad decline of post-apartheid South Africa

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/l...th-Africa.html

The sad decline of post-apartheid South Africa

Disinvestment, poverty, crime and corruption in South Africa today

Failing democracy: the impoverished township of Diepsloot on the outskirts of Johannesburg

SIR – The Queen has congratulated South Africa on 20 years of democracy. But as an Englishman who has lived here for 30 years, I have seen the destruction of the country’s infrastructure since 1994, when Nelson Mandela took over.

There is now very little overseas investment. The mining house BHP Billiton has sold up and the platinum mines near Rustenberg have been at a standstill due to strikes for the past three months.

With disinvestment on this scale, millions of jobs have been lost, and today beggars in rags at traffic lights are the norm. Sewage flows through the gutters, and Escherichia coli is present in the water supply systems, due to pumping and filtration stations breaking down. Crime is sweeping the country.

We are coming up to yet another National Voting Day on May 7, when the African National Congress will yet again win power due to corruption at the polls.

As a surgeon, I have done what I can for the poor South Africans. All of my friends and colleagues have either emigrated or been murdered. We have decided to move to Australia. I am saddened to leave such a once-beautiful country, and I see no hope for it.

Edward Dale
Durban, South Africa

All entirely predictable too, well - apart from the do gooders who prefer to live in an alternative reality.

I agree with the letter, and that it'll get worse.... if I was an Afrikaner I would get out. Zimbabwe v2.0 is sadly just around the world.

But hey, Mandela was the still second coming of Jesus Christ according to the chattering classes. What a legacy.

Thoughts?