So many ideas, but where to begin?

10 April 2012 - 02:22 By David Shapiro
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I sat down to write my column with a number of ideas swirling in my head. I had an eventful week and needed time to reflect on my experiences.

In situations like this I put on my Nikes and, mimicking Forrest Gump, I run, run, run without taking a measure of time or distance, undisturbed and alone with my thoughts. I'm not choosy about my surroundings.

I'm equally at peace along the quiet stretches in Marlboro's factory quarter as I am in the tree-lined, fashionable Melrose suburb.

In the 10 years since I was held up jogging, one wintry morning before dawn in Savoy, by a gang of armed hijackers, I have not encountered any hostility. Or ill-feeling other than from vicious dogs, puffed-up with gallons of testosterone, who escape the confines of their dwellings the instance their owners drive out of the open security gates.

I'm fascinated by the personalities I stumble upon on my regular jaunts, especially the characters who congregate at the shebeen where Eden Road meets Louis Botha Avenue or the extroverted entrepreneurs who conduct their business in the open lot opposite the home affairs office in Wynberg.

One thing I never underestimate is their awareness and comprehension of the state of affairs in the country. My most unusual encounter was with a dreadlocked young man digging trenches on the side of the road for the laying of Vodacom cables. "Shapiro!" he called out loudly, stopping me in my tracks.

Utterly startled, I made my way over to him and his fellow labourers. He proudly introduced me as one of South Africa's leading economists and continued to sing my praises to his bewildered colleagues. I was deeply flattered and didn't want to spoil the moment by explaining that I was nothing more than a noisy accountant with a very limited grasp of economic theory.

But what filled me with even more cheer and hope was hearing my name greeted over the loudspeaker of a police vehicle, a short time after I took off on my Sunday morning run. It was Jabu and Themba, two young patrolmen from the Bramley police station, who have made a point of acquainting themselves with the residents in the area, a development I welcome and one I expect will gain the force greater support and respect in the neighbourhood.

Both are polite, friendly and well turned out. I always express concern about their safety, especially since Jabu is slighter than me and, believe me, I'm no heavyweight contender. Jabu, though, always assures me with a broad grin that he's well trained to look after himself.

As I gathered pace I began trying to fathom ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe's infantile attack on Nedbank chairman Reuel Khoza's views that a strange breed of leaders was emerging who were determined to undermine the rule of law and override the constitution.

Khoza is esteemed in business and social circles and his brave assessment of the current leadership should have carried weight rather than be dismissed as meddlesome. Though one may construe the ANC's response as smug and arrogant, it exposed the administration's faltering confidence and raised alarm about their capacity to address valid criticism and respect for the most vital tenet of the constitution - freedom of speech.

My anger with Mantashe's reproach was counterbalanced by a lunch I attended during the week with four women whose leadership I would willingly endorse.

Cheryl Carolus, Wendy Lucas-Bull, Dolly Mokgatle and Thandi Orleyn are directors of investment group Peotona. I was impressed with their ability to balance administering a number of community projects while retaining seats on the boards of some of the country's leading corporations.

They are clearly able ladies, but it was Orleyn's evaluation of management, particularly in certain industries, that challenged many of my hardened views on the private sector.

Orleyn, an expert in conflict resolution who has mediated prominent strikes and wars, confesses that the sources of most disputes are deep-rooted and not easily understood.

She believes that the problems in the mining industry in the bushveld at present stem from executive failure to modernise their practices and structures. Until we face up to these changes, strikes and friction will persist.

As I turned for home I pondered Orleyn's assumptions with Pimco CEO Mohamed El-Erian's appraisal of the disappointing US job numbers released on Friday. According to El-Erian, America is increasingly lagging behind the advances made by other countries in education and worker training.

Other structural problems such as the unavailability of housing finance continue to inhibit labour mobility while easy credit still eludes investors in small and medium-sized companies.

Only when congress addresses these impediments to growth will the wellbeing of millions of Americans start to recover.

By the time I reached home my head was a buzz of confusion. Screw it, I thought, it was a long weekend and time to put my feet up, relax, enjoy the Highveld sunshine and scrap any thoughts of writing my column.

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