There was a time...

...when to determine the health of an economy, you just had to survey the city skyline to observe building activity...until, that is, the last few years where the Government has been pumping in cash to prop-up the market.

What's a more reliable indicator? The number of thrift/'pound-stretcher' shops, the state of the taxi cab trade, the stress of workers at Job Centres, the number of bus routes being cut, and staffing levels for key fucntions such as nursing, firemen, etc.

On that basket of indicators things do not look good at all. In a market economy, we always have imbalances between salaries and necessities like affordable housing. The imbalance is growing, and correcting that will impact quite a few people. The next election will be quite divisive.

On a lighter note, let's check out the African Civil Aviation Commission:

"One of the most important things in choosing an airline is how safe it is. You don't want to fly out as a passenger and come back as cargo."

AFCAC President, Tshepo Peege, on 'flying coffins'