Not everything is about race – mindsets need to change

RECENT developments in our once relatively peaceful and productive country have led to changes in the thinking of our population, to the point where we merely look for excuses to justify our poverty, unemployment etc. Covid, corruption, yes, what else? Of course, racism.

A contributing factor to this navelgazing might be the dangerously powerful role that social media and our national newspapers and radio are playing in moulding our minds.

What’s happening in our world has been happening since man stood upright and invented things, and solutions to problems have ultimately been achieved. Even if by war.

But nowadays just about anything, even the colour of snow, can become a racist issue. We dig out even the most implausible reasons.

We spout anti-white garbage, and mindless hooligans trash infrastructure and loot shops, perpetuating a lingering racial issue that gets resuscitated throughout the year in order to keep the fires of hatred burning.

Allegedly, a university degree is a must in order to make it through life, but our lack of self-discipline and the pathetic standards of education at some of our schools militate against this. Reason? Apartheid!

As an employer, I trained my staff in technical skills they could use to build themselves a comfortable future.

After working for me for two years, they joined a union and ended up nearly destroying the business with their demands for salary increases and perks.

I closed the business.

Now, to pass on my industryspecific essential skills, I must comply with spurious government paperwork and huge fees, for the privilege.

Fortunately for me, this restriction on my sharing of knowledge is confined to South Africa and I can still train unhindered in neighbouring countries and overseas.

To get anywhere in life, there are some things we need to consider. We have to work harder.

We have to stop looking for excuses for our ineptitude, poverty and bad luck – it’s not a colour thing, it’s a fixed mindset that needs re-setting.

No matter their race, those who innovate, create and share, not sit and wait, will understand.