But we are not going to talk about strikes, or the negative impact on the economy, or the madness of the EFF in dismissing the need for foreign investment; instead, let us concentrate on why the workers held out for so long to “earn” an exorbitant increase in salary.
The answer is, of course, in the hope of a better lifestyle.
But what does this mean in SA?
It seems that, in our tainted Rainbow Nation, a better lifestyle does not imply merely enjoying decent shelter, or access to food, safety or education, but it is also about riding the materialistic train in order to keep up with the proverbial Joneses.
We are not talking about the gravy train of government (that so few can really can ride), but are simply referring to the daunting reality that, no matter the levels of income, people want to hold onto their “status” symbols, such as cellphones, no matter the cost.
SA is one of the largest telecommunications markets on the African continent and so mobile phones have become a popular and prevalent form of voice and data communications among many sectors of the population.
These days, cellphones are, in fact, taking the place of computer internet access. The use of cellphones has been accelerated by the popularity of cheap communication, via applications such as WhatsApp.
Consider that, according to some reports, although half the 50 million people in South Africa live below the poverty line, more than 75 per cent among those in low-income groups, who are 15 years or older, own a mobile phone.
Mobile ownership at the base of pyramid (BoP) – households with an income of less than R500 per month per household member – is also relatively high compared to other African countries. There are also at this moment more active SIM cards than there are people in this country!
Yes, we are, therefore, a country obsessed, it seems, with being mobile, as we use this device to consume information, or to communicate, search and even shop.
Dare to say it, but many simply cannot live without a phone.
For me, I will be impressed the day it can cook, drive the car and do my work. For now, it is just a phone.
And then we are not talking about people buying cheap or feature phones, but smartphone penetration in South Africa has also increased at a rapid pace.
Yes, smartphone is the new buzz word, and we will sacrifice limb or pet to own one.
Apart from this need to be attached to a phone, also consider how satellite TV has taken this country by storm, with DSTV passing the five million subscription mark in South Africa.
SA is, of late, the target media for numerous other satellite television networks. There is, thus, the growing need to vegetate behind the black box, entertained by celebrities who have little to say, all while the masses hardly worry about forking out cash for this form of escapism.
It is noteworthy, when one drives past dilapidated looking apartments (you know, where the windows are barely hanging on and the walls are crumbling), that one thing you will find is scores of satellite dishes.
You have to wonder how many residents who live in these apartments, that resemble cockroach heaven, gladly pay the R700 for a premium package?
This begs the question: if we look at the need for satellite TV and cellphones, where do our prosperities rest?
Let us be honest, people will rather go hungry, but they want to hold onto the phone, and they supposedly need the phone to remain “in touch”, to be “connected” and to be hip and stylish.
After all, a major reason for the cellphone mania can be attributed to social media. Everybody these days wants to be on Facebook, Twitter or who knows what other funny social platforms.
I often wonder how many people walk around with these fancy phones just for the sake of having a fancy phone while at the same time being content to struggle paying for a beat up vehicle or their child’s education or to put food on the table?
To own any phone for the purpose of staying connected is not cheap, be it prepaid or contract. Yet, a cellphone is an apparent necessity in this country.
It is as if you don’t have a proper phone, you will wither away and die a horrible death.
Remember the good old days when children still climbed trees, the days when there was no phones or satellite TV? People had more money, were more content and were not so stressed!
Now, we need to have the best and the latest, even though we hardly use the phone to its fullest of functionality. Here is a shocking truth – we don’t really need all these fancy gadgets, but, subconsciously, we now believe that our life will end without them.
This also applies to satellite TV. You will listen to how people moan about the cost of living, but heck, they will not depart from their TV!
What has become of society and our priorities? People have gone ballistic over phones and other gadgets, but why?
Starve we will, but “give me my phone” is the cry of our nation. What about buying some cheap books and reading them?
It is disconcerting that people spend more on phones than education, on sitting in front of the TV than around the dinner table, and that we insist on being part of the materialistic rush to nowhere, for the sake of merely being Westernised.
Life definitely consists of more than phones, no matter if they curve or can do a dance, or satellite TV (all the programmes repeat anyway).
Have we then become content to forsake the deeper meaning of life, even forsaking our spiritual growth, just so that we can indulge in the shallow treasures of entertainment that last but briefly?
Again, I pose the question: why did the miners strike? To have better smartphones or satellite TV or was it to wear branded fashion (that also eventually fades)?
