It`s beyond logic....

Don’t you ever wonder sometimes how other people’s minds work, do they have an active imagination, talk silently to themselves, what are they thinking? Take the next step and ask the question why, why did that driver actually do that, the pedestrian who suddenly crossed the main road without looking. My question right now tackles travel and tourism to South Africa, what do potential travellers and visitors think when they see Julius Malema on television, what do they think when they see the military force, the last bastion of security storming the Union Buildings where but a few years ago, they witnessed the final collapse of apartheid, and Nelson Mandela being inaugurated.

From Bogotá to Bangladesh, tourists are becoming aware of South Africa, mainly because of the 2010 Soccer World Cup but whatever the reason, our famous names, Cape Town, Johannesburg, the Kruger national Park are all on everyone’s minds as they consider travel to our beautiful and sunny South Africa.

Going back to peoples minds, don’t those rioting soldiers, the unionist leaders of the strike’s who are unable to stop the secondary problem of looting and crime during these so called peaceful demonstrations, don’t Malema and other ego-maniacs, realise what they are doing to tourism, has it occurred to them that tourism is now our biggest and fastest growing industry, our Hotels’ bed and Breakfast and other accommodation establishments employ people, people who voted for the ruling Government who sit back and watch as these thieves steal their jobs and the jobs of their families.

Why do I say steal, those who succeed in getting on the international news channels, as the striking soldiers did, help persuade tourists not to come, to choose alternative destinations….after all, who wants to visit a chaotic country. Before you say we are not in chaos, you are right, we are not, we know this and we acknowledge this is not true, South Africa is a well run efficient democracy, constitutional law is well under control, but marketing is about perception, all Bob in Bogotá sees is Malema, that in itself tells a story.

Going back to the minds of others, what were they thinking, where is the logic, why do smokers think the remains of their cigarettes are not litter, that rapist thing firstly that rape is acceptable, never mind the rape of babies and the helpless elderly, how do their minds actually work, what do they think about that evening before they go to bed.

Yes, pollution does create jobs, the3ir is a role and a place for a peaceful strike or demonstration, it’s the next level that is of concern. If you are students striking, why burn your desks or wreck your own sports facilities, how does your mind work.

Petty crime is now considered so minor it doesn’t even warrant a mention. A little shoplifting here and there; short changing a customer at the tills; a small gratuity to a traffic officer to avoid a fine; a pen or two taken home form work, who is accountable, what can we do. Surely the blame for a child who litters must fall on the laps of parents, first and foremost, perhaps then school leaders and the authorities.

It would appear that our society has become hardened to crime, beyond a level that would astound members of a more civilised society.

How does your mind work?

Alan Hawkins - CEO