It is now five years since the longest slump in the global economy since World War II was triggered by a financial crisis in the US in August 2007. And there is little sign of a letup, with a number of indications that September 2012 is shaping up to be a crunch month. Although Europe’s sovereign debt crisis is at the eye of the storm, the effects are increasingly being felt in many other parts of the world. 

Blade Runner, Oscar Pistorius, will be the flag bearer for the South African team at the opening ceremony of the London Paralympics on Wednesday night. Will the South African team of 62 members return as triumphantly as in 2008, when they won thirty medals, 21 of which were gold. 

Coaches Andy Flower of England and Gary Kirsten of South Africa will play series-deciding roles in the one day cricket internationals between the two countries over the next week. The series ends next Wednesday (5 September) at Trent Bridge and could see South Africa replace England as the number one ranked One Day International team of the world, if they win the series. 

As South Africa continues to try to come to grips with the tragic shooting of 34 miners at Marikana on 16 August, the aggressive rhetoric being traded between politicians and labour leaders of opposing camps is not helping to foster an atmosphere of reconciliation. The role of the current labour relations regime in South Africa in the face of this tragedy also warrants close scrutiny and a possible overhaul to prevent future recurrences. 

Reading the other day that South Africa is approaching the end of what has become known as its annual “strike season”, during which employers and trade unions negotiate wage deals, the question of where it all comes from came to mind. In English the word “strike” to describe industrial action goes back only about two and a half centuries. As a form of protest by workers, however, it dates back more than 3 000 years! 

Despite the fact that Julius Malema has been relieved of his position as president of the African National Congress’ Youth League (ANCYL), radical pronouncements and challenges to the senior leadership of the party from the league have not diminished. Developments elsewhere in the world would suggest that South Africa is not dealing with an isolated phenomenon. 

With no apparent end to large natural gas discoveries, estimated as the biggest in the world in the last decade, many of the international oil companies are moving into east and central Africa to share in the bounty. Where natural gas is found, they know, oil is most of the time not far away. With these developments comes the potential for disputes – among others about borders. 

Francois Steyn saved South Africa from embarrassment on Saturday with his try, after the charge down of an attempted Argentinian clearance kick. This allowed South Africa  to secure a draw against Argentina in Mendoza in the Castle Rugby Championship competition. For Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer the honeymoon is now over.

As the cost of service delivery protests -- in lives and in monetary terms – is spiralling, 2012 is set to become the year with the highest number of delivery-linked protests since 1994. Local governments are at the eye of the storm. But unless the country, across all three levels of government, comes to terms with the rapid rate of urbanisation, it is unlikely that the tide of these destructive social waves will soon be turned.