We sit with a lot of problems in South Africa. Anyone who tells you different has fallen down the rabbit hole trying to find Alice.
Some are upset that Trump stuck his nose in SA’s business, others are applauding the US president for highlighting farm murders. And yes, some say the genocide of white farmers is an illusion, while others say it is a reality.
President Rhamaposa has stuck out his chest in defiance of America, clearly a signal that SA is sticking with Brics for trade and to survive.
And surprisingly, Ramaphosa has found support in the form of UK Prime Minister Theresa May.
Every day there are issues in this Rainbow Nation where the colours have faded and where the Ramaphosa honeymoon is turning into some sort of nightmare.
As the commission continues its hearings into state capture, the more we realise this country has been completely plundered, like an innocent victim pounced upon and savaged by a hungry bear.
It is clear a lot of people will eventually be implicated, as we continue to hang our heads in shame and disgust, but what will happen to the culprits? Most likely they will be moved into another government position.
Don’t hold your breath that much will happen in the long run. The money is gone and the blood has been spilt, the blood of all the citizens that are the life of this land.
In the midst of the calamity, South Africans are facing the advent of the National Health Insurance, which our President said will work when managed properly.
I was driving in my car when I heard this news and almost drove off the road due to all the laughing. Since when has any parastatal been managed properly? This is why we are all suffering. No one, it seems, knows how to manage a government-owned entity.
Yes, we have many problems, and frustrations boil over as our pavements are ripped up and grass is torn out by the guys laying fibre. This is just an extra nuisance, as residents remain concerned for their safety and the mess that is not properly fixed.
And then to add to our woes along with our apparent addictions, we sit with obesity that has spiralled out of control. Do you know on estimate that roughly a quarter of South Africans are obese?
Whatever the reality of the exact figures, we have a nation that is overweight, and apparently as mentioned suffering from substance abuse.
The worst part is that our youth, who are the future of this country, have been swallowed alive by the obesity monster.
This is a weighty matter, for obese people are more likely to suffer from diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer. Yes, folks, this is our future workforce – labourers and leaders who will suffer from all kinds of ailments, which does not augur well for our levels of productivity.
After all, it has been reported the number of young South Africans suffering from obesity doubled in six years, while this took 13 years to happen in the United States.
By the way, obesity is a condition where a person has too much body fat and it might have a negative effect on their health. If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 25 and 29.9 you are considered to be overweight, whereas if it falls above that, you are considered to be obese.
While obesity is seen as a sign of wealth and prosperity by some South Africans, the reality is that it’s life-threatening.
The rise in the country’s obesity rates has been attributed to several factors, including the increasing urbanisation of our population, higher levels of disposable income that’s spent on unhealthy food and alcohol, fast-paced lifestyles and increased inactivity.
In the light of this, no wonder our Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation, Gert Oosthuizen, is a worried man. We have an inactive nation. Our youth are no longer moving, even though we live in a country where sport is a lifestyle for many.
It is therefore great to hear the government proposing compulsory physical activity in schools, as well as proposing that learners practise at least one sport. And no, playing games on a cellphone is not a sport.
At the end of the day, we all need to start making lifestyle changes at every level – individual, family, community and policy. We are talking here about the future – even though what future awaits us remains uncertain.
As South Africans, we have to fight against obesity by promoting healthier eating and cooking, promoting an increase in physical activity and supporting gyms and physical activities at schools.
We need to all take hands to address obesity, and it is not a good idea to do so during a bring-and-braai.
The vitality of our nation, which is already under tremendous strain, is at stake. So let us at least try to slim down, which will relieve the food supply, which may or may not be affected by land expropriation.
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