But when Minister Manuel scolds the spendthrifts, does he include his prodigal colleagues in the cabinet?

IT'S a mess out there. Greece is pushing the eurozone to the precipice of economic disaster, Barack Obama had to beg the Republicans to raise the US debt ceiling, and down here in the south of Africa, 25% of our people are jobless.

So Trevor Manuel's warning at a consumer rights forum this week about the high levels of indebtedness by middle-class South Africans is perfectly legitimate and fitting.

We do spend far too much, living in a credit-induced fantasy world.

The Khumalos, Kunenes, Smiths and Joneses are trying to keep up with each other with the heady abandon of the early 2000s, when the rand was the best-performing currency against the dollar. The 5c, it seems, has yet to drop that times have changed.

Manuel is correct that the poor among us are not the consumer culprits. Income derived from social grants and piece jobs is not great for determining creditworthiness or opening store accounts.

It is we, the urban dwellers of SA's big cities, who are, as Manuel said, already spending "next year's earnings".

With his trademark sarcasm, Manuel said: "Either the marketing in South Africa is so powerful that we cannot help ourselves, or we try to keep up with the Kunenes ..."

All of this is true, of course.

Take a walk through Joburg's Hyde Park mall and our black-diamond madams will relish the chance - along with their white sisters - to slither into a R20000 frock in a changing-room as big as a room in an RDP house.

These days, the Khumalos are not only vying with the Kunenes in the conspicuous consumption stakes, but the car that Madam Kunene stops at her darling girl's private school must be a better class of luxury than the one Mrs Smith, with her old white money, is driving.

Manuel added: "When we see the fancy cars and expensive designer-label clothing, visit the extraordinarily opulent houses, or attend the over-the-top parties, weddings or funerals, [we should ask] whether we are participating in marking the social progress of those who did the spending or whether this is an excursion into fantasy land?"

But the Kunenes are not the only inhabitants of this fantasy land. Manuel's cabinet colleagues are happy residents too. His warning comes in the context of a political elite who have no qualms about wallowing in the same obscene conspicuous consumption of which he accuses us.

These days, it is increasingly difficult to ascertain what drives our politicians. Do they want to effect real and lasting change in South Africans' lives or are they in a perpetual orgasm of power, with no regard for the impression they create as they flash past us with their blue-light brigades.

Was Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula, who looked rather glum sitting next to his wife after news of his condom-splitting affair broke, celebrating his social upward mobility by importing American singers to serenade him and 500 friends?

What message was the pimp-purple-suited Malema sending to wretched young people when he got down with his peeps in Mauritius less than 48 hours after marching to the JSE, the citadel of those conscience-less capitalists?

And let's not forget the 2009 orgy of spending new ministers went through after being appointed to President Jacob Zuma's cabinet, racking up an estimated R42.6-million new-car bill. Manuel himself shamefacedly admitted to "an error in judgment" for spending R1.2-million on a BMW 7-series in 2009.

But what are the penalties for overspending, power-corrupt government officials?

Sicelo Shiceka got the sack for spending money and lying about it - his offences were too blatant to ignore. As for the rest, they are buffered in the fat of the bureaucracy, where increases and bonuses are guaranteed irrespective of what happens on the JSE.

It is doubtful if Sbu Ndebele will feel moved to repay the R1.4-million he has spent on luxury accommodation since becoming minister of transport in 2009.

So, Minister Manuel, I'll listen to your wise counsel. I will tighten my belt. For most of the week, I will pack lunch at home, instead of eating bad cafeteria food. I will downgrade my grocery retailer. I won't splurge on a new frock for the next function I have to attend. And I'll ensure next year's salary is spent on the right stuff, like my children's education.

But can I then expect your brothers and sisters in the cabinet to take equal care of the money they are entrusted with? Can I expect them to travel only economy-class, not to max out the car limits set out in the ministerial handbook? Can they stay in official residences, rather than five-star hotels? Can they hire reasonably priced cars (aircon obviously included)?

I know it might be asking a lot, but I'm sure you will agree that, in these times, no one can afford to live in a fantasy land.