Durban : A case study in alarmism.

I think this really is a time I can let the evidence speak for itself.

This is a popular blog aimed to show the world (homesick South African expats)as to the horrors that South Africa has succumbed to. After a look those who left beautiful South Africa might indeed feel aggrieved at This is a popular blog aimed to show the world (homesick South African expats)as to the horrors that South Africa has succumbed to. After a look those who left beautiful South Africa might indeed feel aggrieved at the state the poor country (especially the gorgeous holiday city of Durban) has fallen into. It might even just help some sad South African trying to tolerate life after a hard day working a crap minimum wage job in the U.K feel that they made the right decision to leave.

Take a look for yourself --> Death of Durban.

This type of site is very common out there regarding South Africa. The readership are almost all expat South Africans who left 15 years ago and are widely out of touch with the country (or they would laugh it off). It's kind of like porn for them and a way to find comfort from the homesickness.

Now far from trying to hide this type of thing from you I encourage you to look at it. Because to someone who actually still lives in the country and visits Durban it's entirely absurd how bleak that makes the city look. Now everyone in South Africa knows that of the surrounding East coast holiday towns Durban is the big ugly sister, but in fact Durban has recently undergone massive regeneration projects and could pretty much hold its head up proud these days.

To prove that take a look at the pictures and comments here. There are plenty so let them load and feast your eyes on some of the new developments.

Notice the second group of pictures is recent as well as wide shots that provide things in context. Not random little bits of rubbish that could be anywhere for all we know. Now tell me the author of the Death of Durban blog, do you think he's being honest with you ?

No, of course he isn't. So what's his agenda ? I'll let you work it out for yourself as to what drives SnowySmith (the author) to discredit the new South Africa in such a manipulative and dishonest way. All I ask is what next come you come across something about South Africa that seems entirely alarming and sensationally terrible. Well that's exactly what's probably going on : alarmism and sensationalism with an alterior motive.

Expect a lot more posts by me in the coming days by the way. But here's another little gem before I go.

For those saying we can't afford the world cup and the money would be better spent redistributed.

Do the maths. If we did not have a world cup and redistributed all the money spent on stadiums (ignoring the fact that most of that money was redistributed anyway through wages...so it's not really apples and apples at all) that would mean...

We could give each and every single person in South Africa...for a whole 4 years....

(assuming stadium spend of 14 billion and 50 million people.)

drumroll.....

R70 a year. For 4 years.

(Or a single packet of 2 minute noodles a month.)

I don't know. Between that and a world cup I reckon the noodles might be coming in last for ways we're going to crack poverty and perceptions in Africa.

Anyway
peace and love
Rooster