ITS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN, THAT GIVING TIME. IN THIS SPIRIT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MY OPINION ON ONE OR TWO SUBJECTS THAT ARE CLOSE TO MY, AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY TO YOUR HEARTS.

TAXI'S, DON'T YOU JUST LOVE ‘EM. THEY MAKE MY LIFE INTERESTING ON A DAILY BASIS. ISNT IT FUN TO WATCH THEM BREAKING ALL THE RULES AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT. DON'T YOU ENJOY THE EXTRA FIFTEEN MINUTES THEY TAKE AWAY FROM YOU ON ANY JOURNEY BY EITHER SUDDENLY STOPPING OR PERFORMING AN EMERGENCY U TURN TO PICK UP A MISSED PASSENGER ? THEY MUST BE GOOD GUYS COZ THE GOVERNMENT WANTED TO GIVE THEM 50K FOR EACH TAXI THEY SCRAPPED, AND I HAVENT SEEN ONE WORTH MORE THAN 10K EVER. I PRESUME THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CHECK WHETHER THEY ARE TAX CONTRIBUTORS FIRST ? . I MEAN, IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR GIVING TAX PAYERS MONEY TO PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T DESERVE IT WOULD IT ? WHO DOESN'T ALREADY PAY INCOME TAX, COMPANY TAX, CAPITAL GAINS TAX, PETROL TAX, VAT, ROAD LICENCE FEES, TOLL ROAD FEES, VAT ON USED CARS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, NOT TO BE A BIT MIFFED BY THAT PROPOSAL ? HOW ABOUT GETTING ALL THIS REVENUE TOGETHER AND PUTTING TOGETHER A PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM . IS THE ANSWER TOO SIMPLE ? ROAD CONGESTION WOULD BE EASED IMMEDIATELY, ROAD DEATHS WOULD ALL BUT DISAPPEAR, INNOCENT LIVES SAVED. SHOW ME ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM. SURELY WE ARE NOT GOING TO RELY ON TAXIS FOR THE WORLD CUP ? CAN YOU IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF VALUABLE FOREIGN TOURISTS THAT WILL DIE INNOCENTLY ON OUR ROADS IF WE DO? CAN WE BLAME THE TAXI DRIVER ? I THINK NOT. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE ROADS, THE ROBOTS, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICING THE ROADS, FOR CORRECTLY MANAGING TAX PAYERS MONEY, FOR PLANNING AND ADDING VALUE? WHO IS PRE-OCCUPIED WITH PULLING STATUES DOWN, CHANGING STREET NAMES OR BUYING MORE RADARS SO THAT THEY CAN INCREASE THEIR ALREADY HUGE REVENUES.

ON ANOTHER SUBJECT, I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT TWO OF THE ROADS I USE TO GET TO WORK, NAMELY OXFORD AND BARRY HERTZOG, ARE UNDERGOING A BEAUTIFICATION PROCESS. PLANTS AND FLOWERS ARE TO BE SEEN EVERYWHERE. ON CLOSER INSPECTION IT IS DEPERATELY SAD TO NOTE THAT THEY ARE LITTLE MEMORIALS TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ON THESE ROADS. I WONDER IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH UNROADWORTHY, UNRULY TAXIS OR INOPERATIVE ROBOTS.