We should, however, not dwell on our misfortunes as a nation, and instead look forward to the year ahead, which holds many positive and encouraging highlights. Features that are sure to set a positive outcome for the year ahead and will hopefully renew our spirit and love for our country, South Africa.
General Election
The biggest event on every South Africans calendar for this year, would most definitely be The General Election. Sometime between April and June 2009 South Africa will hold national elections to elect a new National Assembly, and President Kgalema Motlanthe will proclaim a date for the election soon, which according to the South African Constitution must be held within 90 days of the expiry of the term of the current National Assembly. The current National Assembly was elected 14 April 2004, its 5 year term therefore expires 14th April 2009.
This is very good news for South Africans looking for a change in leadership and to challenge the ruling party, or for those who wish to solidify their support for our current leadership. For those of us who listened in history class, South Africa has an executive President elected by the National Assembly, so in effect the election will also indirectly determine the future president of our country. The South African National Assembly consists of 400 members, elected by proportional representation. Two hundred members are elected from national party lists, the other 200 are elected from party lists in each of the nine provinces. The President of South Africa is chosen by the National Assembly after each election. These will be the fourth general elections held since the end of the apartheid era and the world will be watching. Many countries look to South Africa as an example of change and acceptance, so this is our time to shine.
Sporting Events
Sports fans have a lot to look forward to this year, with many great sporting
events being hosted on our home turf.
One of the highlights is The FIFA Confederations Cup, which is an official FIFA tournament held every four years. In recent times, it has been seen as a warm-up event to the FIFA World Cup, but is by no means a minor competition. In fact, due to the nature of its participants, it is often referred to as the ‘Champions of Champions’ tournament. In this year’s edition, the continental champions from South America, North and Central America and the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and Asia will join us, the hosts, in competing for the trophy, with Brazil defending their title as the previous champions. The event will be held in South Africa from June 14 to June 28, 2009, as a prelude to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Every rugby fan far and wide will be waiting in bated breath for the British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa in June-July. They have but one goal in mind, to challenge our boys in Green and Gold -the newly crowned world champions – in one of, if not the greatest spectacle, in world rugby. Always exciting, always controversial, always brutal, neither side will contemplate anything but victory in this compelling series. In 1997 the Lions toured South Africa and returned triumphant, so let’s hope history will not be repeated.
Cricket fans get their share of the action too with Australia’s tour of South Africa. The tour programme consists of three Test matches, five One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 encounters. Australia open the tour on February 20 with a one-off warm-up match against South Africa A in Potchefstroom, and the tour will run through to the middle of April. The three Tests will be played in the ‘traditional venues’ of Joburg, Durban and Cape Town.
The ever -fluctuating Rand
South Africa’s currency slumped 38 percent in 2008 with the benchmark stock index losing more than 30 percent after foreigners turned net sales of almost 41 billion rand ($3.8 billion) of the nation’s stocks and bonds. Our Rand remained stalled at six-year lows against the dollar toward the end of 2008. However experts predict it is likely to recover and stabilise at around 8.50 in the first quarter of this year.
Inflation will fall
Investec says that South Africa’s real inflation rate has been overstated, however the implementation of Statistics South Africa’s new CPI calculation system will help inflation fall into the target band by the middle of this year.
The overstating of the interest rate has had a serious impact on monetary policy as well as other pricing decisions such as wage negotiations, long-term contracts and retail prices. So its stabilisation this year will have long-term positive effects on monetary policy.
Fuel Pipeline Completion
The planned R4.2-billion liquid-fuels pipeline linking Mozambique and South Africa should be completed by the end of 2009. Current market growth indicates a critical petrol and diesel shortage in Gauteng in the future, and Petroline’s pipeline and storage facility will be able to satisfy a large portion of the future demands in South Africa by means of importation via Mozambique. This should result in the decrease of the pressure on liquid fuels imports on Durban harbour and also support fuel imports to Mozambique and other southern African neighbours. The pipeline will have a diameter of 30 centimetres and have the capacity to transport five million tonnes of fuel per year. This project offers a great opportunity for regional co-operation and integration between South Africa and Mozambique and contribution to the upliftment of the [Southern African Development Community] region, at the same time strengthening the product supply security in South Africa.
In summary, with new fuel pipelines underway, an imminent General Election, not to mention hope for a stabilising Rand and drop in inflation, we as South Africans have a lot to look forward to this year. Not only for our economy and political realm, but the sporting events we will host this year, will showcase our nation as welcoming hosts for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which is already within our sights. Let us stand tall and stand proud as South Africans in 2009 and prove to the world what a great nation we truly are!
