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Is South Africa in Survival Mode?

The American Disaster Preparedness center came up with one of the most interesting campaigns for motivating people to stay prepared. Instead of telling everyone to be scared of hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes, they focused on zombies. That’s right, zombies. Thanks to popular television shows like The Walking Dead, Americans are warming up to the idea that some kind of zombie apocalypse is actually a possibility. For the Disaster Preparedness center it doesn’t really matter what people prepare for, because the kits all include the same basic things, such as matches, torches, knives, water purifiers etc. The whole point of the campaign wasn’t to make money. Instead, they just want people to have a backup plan in case the worst happens.

Does South Africa need a Zombie Campaign?

I know, it’s not a very optimistic approach to take, but how far do things have to go before we start facing the reality of the situation? Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, South Africa currently finds itself at a very low point. In fact, there are so many areas where conflict is the dominant factor, it will only make sense to invoke some kind of survival campaign. But don’t just take my word for it. Let’s look at the facts, shall we?

Political Meltdowns

If you were to follow the direction in which the political winds are blowing, then you’ll discover it’s more than just a little overwhelming. Half of the country is calling for president Zuma to stand down, which has sparked an aggressive call to action from the ANCYL. They are urging Zuma supporters to “take up arms and defend the president”. All the while the ANC is splitting down the middle due to internal conflicts. But what about the EFF and their overwhelming desire to push excessive land reform policies? Or what about DA leaders getting assassinated? No matter how you look at it, there is nothing stable about the current affairs. If it happens that another party other than the ANC should win the presidential elections, could it possibly be the start of a civil disaster? Corruption has plagued our leaders for years now and it doesn’t help that the police are spending more money on catering than protection.

Protests and Destruction

For some reason or another protests in South Africa go hand in hand with destruction. About 1 in 10 protests are peaceful in nature, while the rest will lash out at anything that is close by. The #Feesmustfall campaign is probably one of the best examples to use in this case. Several universities have lost sections of the campus to fires and riots, and they don’t have the funds to repair them. It’s speculated that universities will stop functioning altogether if the protesting persists in such a violent way. And we all know there’s a big strike looming somewhere in the shadows. Some big corporation is going to be crippled by unhappy employees, leaving us with the added cost in the end. There is simply no telling what’s going to happen next.

The Frail Economy

Just when you think the Rand is gaining some ground, a catastrophe strikes. In this case finance minister Pravin Gordhon is facing charges of fraud, which has destabilized the Rand. While Gordhon enjoys a widespread support from South Africans, it seems like there might be more to the situation than meets the eye. When some political leaders are actually promoting the junk status awaiting South Africa, it wouldn’t be surprising if a personal agenda was part of the charges filed against Gordhon.

It’s a Wake-Up Call

This article isn’t about whether South Africa is a bad country. Instead, it’s about facing the reality of the situation. Many other countries find themselves in some very difficult circumstances, political and social, but we don’t live in those countries. We live here. So, one can’t help to wonder whether a zombie apocalypse frame of mind should be entertained on some level.

Survival Starts at Home

Given that our apocalypse will most likely be economical, South Africans should look at creating independence on the home-front. Your home and property should be your primary focus, because you control it. Nobody is stopping you from planting organic food, and nobody is stopping you from using renewable energy. Food, a clean water supply and electricity are the 3 things that will give you more than just independence. It will save you money as well.

Take for example a solar array that takes your home off the grid. It’s a big investment to make, but in the long run you are looking at total independence from Eskom and their price hikes. You don’t have to worry if the company takes a nose-dive, because your lights will be running on free and renewable energy.

Let’s face it. The moment you see something negative on the news, you automatically think how it’s going to effect you and your family. Is loading shedding rearing its ugly head again? Will food prices eventually consume the bigger part of your salary? We immediately think about the basic necessities and whether they will remain available – at an affordable rate.

By taking the initiative you can create a type of “comfort zone” at your home. Having renewable energy on hand and growing food in the backyard are two things that will bring a huge amount of relief during a difficult time such as this.