[jonathanlydall]

Yes, I was thinking as I wrote it that there are likely parallels to places in US.

And yes, it’s a complex issue for sure.

I’m convinced that the way out of poverty here is through education and sadly there is just a huge amount of apathy (when not corruption) at all levels here by the people who are supposed to be making it happen, from pupils, their parents, teachers, etc, all the way to the minister of education.

Meanwhile people like me pay huge amounts of tax and still need to pay for private schooling for my kids, private security and medical aid.

Essentially, most of the money I pay for tax is a charity intended for the poor, but due to apathy/incompetence/corruption, not nearly enough of it gets used effectively.

[doodlebugging]

Parallels.

The wrong people capturing the resources that were earmarked for useful purposes and using them to enrich themselves.

[jonathanlydall]

Corruption is a big problem for sure, but so is apathy and incompetence.

When my mother was doing community service at a clinic some years back (required by law for people who get medical degrees before being allowed to practice privately), the clinic failed to spend their allocated budget.

The money was made available, it just wasn’t used, this despite people like the speech and hearing therapists applying for things like hearing aids for patients from week 1 of the annual budget period.

I suppose it’s a product of corruption/nepotism, people get into positions of power and focus their time on “stealing” and perks rather than the job they are being paid for and supposed to be doing.