From: "Raynard Looch" Subject: KLASS LOOCH ASSOCIATES : OHS CHAT & SKINNER: "WHITE BOYS CAN SKI"! Date: 24 July 2002 11:45 AM Now folks you may think that, with the above title, I have lost my marbles completely and that it has nothing to do with OHS matters. And you are right! The title dawned on me while I was either stuck in traffic or sitting you-know-where, because I decided you deserve to know where the Devil's Advocate comes from. His roots so to speak! So here we go........... I was spawned by the Devil's Advocate Senior in ......Purgatory....I mean Pretoria. What with all those shopping malls collapsing and hotels burning, we may as well change its name to that. (Pretorianers ek trek net julle se bene)! Say that fast! Name changing is in vogue anyways. Limpopo, Polewane, Musina and I forget the new name for Louis Trichardt. Jislaaaik, that Premier of Limpopo is sure on a roll! Never mind the expense that accompanies such changes. Maps, number plates etc. Not to mention the pronunciation. Is this pay-back time? But to get back to the title. Some may accuse me of being a "differentiatalist" by using the word "white, but I'm playing on the movie "White boys can't Jump". Seen it anyone? Well, they can ski. Well at least I can. So let's start at the very beginning. My father was a Jan Smuts man and, in 1948 when the Nationalists took over, he was side-lined. Being as outspoken as myself, and a victim of affirmative action (yes, they invented it)! - he was transferred abroad to shut him up. Well that's when life for us began! At tax payers expense of course. We had two mansions in Switzerland - at tax payers expense - and I, at a young child became an expert skier. So much so, that once, when my brother and I were skiing in Vermont (USA for dummies), we were selected by the skiing authorities as the best skiers on the piste ( French for slope), and asked to take all their equipment up to their top station. Upon hearing, in the sixties, that we were African nogal, they retorted, "there ain't no white folk in Africa"! Well, not only were there white people in Africa in the sixties, but they could ski! So all this is just to explain that, despite being a pale male in Africa, I can ski.....on snow. I also need to point out that I am a serial opposition junkie, having never supported any ruling elite. So I am immune to any allegations that I am a "differentiatalist"! I don't like being governed.......full stop! And I hate being taxed so that fat cats can thrive. See www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=594&art_id-qw1027084681828B241&set_id=1 entitled "Belt loosened again for SA's 'fatcats'." Well, with that behind me, lets talk OHS! Although this article does appear on my site at www.klasslooch.com, I really think it deserves repetition. Entitle "Transparency please", it can be found at www.mg.co.za/Content/13.jsp?a=48&o=927. It bemoans, amongst other things, the selective approach to employer criminal prosecuting by the authorities. (Check out the part under "Stop the rot" about the Ellis Park tragedy). I also read in the Financial mail that civil suits are being prepared against the PPSL, Ellis Park, Kaizer Chiefs and the Minister of Safety and Security, thanks to the Legal Resources Centre. Perhaps that is where relief lies these days, in civil suits, since, despite the protestations by the Department of Labour, the backlog in uninvestigated (potential) criminal OHS matters appear to remain. (But remember civil suits are limited to non-employees in this country). No mention of the backlogs in Parliament by the Minister during his portfolio speech and their silence is deafening on this aspect in their Interim Report 2002 -2002. (This report can also be accessed off my site at www.klasslooch.com (double click on the site and look to the button on your left). Chapter 3 deals with OHS matters. Transparency please! Give us some stats! Let us see what inroads you have made with those shocking backlogs. Where is the Injaka bridge case now. Give a media statement. You guys at the department seem to be on a roll with media statements and you have a lovely website which we can visit,, ideally suited to give life the Promotion of Access to Information Act!. We know you are targeting soft targets, because you have pumped out so may media statements about how naughty the farmers are vis-a-vis OHS matters! Why not go check out some of the more dangerous areas. I dare you. Or are you scared that your inspectors will get "donnered" again? Go lend a hand to ESKOM in combating illegal connections and help save some more lives. Tackle the hawkers who are selling death traps in the form of substandard tyres to the public. See www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,1136161-6099-0,00.hyml dated 23 July 2002 . entitled "Industry body urges curb on tyre hawkers." And while you are pumping out media statements, please tell us how you intend filling the 63% vacancy OHS vacancy rate that exists? Just because Mugabe hates farmers, we need not follow suit. Oops, I'm onto that topic again. I read that he, Mad criminal Bob, the one who is no real issue for the newly formed African Union, sommer commandeered a plane to fly to Cuba (where is naturally in good company) and left all the passengers stranded. Also that he refuses to meet his fellow citizens (farmers) of different pigmentation. I suppose he is too keen to get his grubby paws on their productive farms and to hand them over to his greedy ZANU PF elite! Stop me please! More ugly revelations about our prisons. The prisons appear to be so horrible that I cannot understand why they don't act as a deterrent for the masses of criminals that roams our cities. Well at least everyone knows what sodomy is! Alix Carmichael. I hope you get my mail. I'm a fan, brave girl. Take those negligent public servants, who feel they are unaccountable, to the cleaners! See www.news24.co.?News24/Southj_Africa?westernCape/0,1113,2-7-830_1184626,00.htm entitled "Rape survivor wins 7 year battle". Aaaah. The Lenasia trail comes up next month. August 20 to 22. I suppose you public servants (Department of Labour) are "nipping" since the Constitutional Court has ruled that you may be held accountable if you act negligently? Watch this space. Folks. loads more interesting stuff at www.klasslooch.com . Pay us a visit. Remember Gold Subscribers you can a whopping 50% discount per delegate plus an extra 10% for early bird bookings for my next round of seminars. I'm almost paying you to attend. Other Subscribers get discount too. Early bird discounts expire end September. There is still some place at out Jo'burg venue on 1 August and then I hit the road and will be at the following cities and venues to enlighten and entertain you. You can mail juliette@klasslooch.com or phone her at 011726-7839 or fax 011726-6463. Johannesburg 21 November 2002 Parktonian Hotel Durban 26 November 2002 Marine Parade garden Court PE 27 November 2002 Summerstand Inn Cape Town 28 November 2002 de Waal Garden Court Be good. Your Devil's Advocate Views represented here have already been forgotten by the Devil's Advocate - he didn't take his medication today - and don't necessarily represent the views of Klass Looch Associates or any of its clients. PS A little bird tells me that Banks are going to be "targeted" soon by the Inspectorate. maybe other soft targets like office blocks in general? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ This electronic communication may contain privileged and confidential information and is destined solely for the addressee(s). If it inadvertently reaches you, kindly forward to the addressee(s) or delete the mail. The author accepts no responsibility or liability for such an occurrence. raynard@klasslooch.com KLASS LOOCH ASSOCIATES PO Box 40 Melville 2109 Visit www.klasslooch.com & subscribe! Tel 0117267839 Fax 0117266463 Cell 0825749882