Introduction

At the outset it is important to highlight that the broad majority of analysts consider the turbulent economic conditions of 2007/2008 and those that we are set to face in 2009 to be cyclical; in other words, not sustainable over the long term and certainly not indicative of South Africa’s true underlying economic strength. The chart set for 2014 confirms this by the significator of the assets and the economy of the country, Venus, being placed in her own sign, thus essentially dignified. Her placement of combustion, even though she has power over the Sun, shows that the assets/economy are not being viewed clearly, possibly even under valued, and that we run the risk of depleting or destroying them.

The economy of South Africa

Our economy is posited in the 9th house (foreign countries) which emphasises that it, together with our assets, is at the mercy of the foreign investors and the international market at large. The essential and accidental dignities and debilities of South Africa show that the country itself as well as its people has a blind spot. Are we blind to what needs to be done to right the wrongs, to the government itself, or to the fact that we cannot continue to squander our natural resources, thus our assets much longer – we must never forget that the people of a country are also its assets. The chart indicates that it is primarily the latter. Foreign countries have power over our assets and if we look at the emerging world which will dominate the global economy by 2014, specifically China, India, Brazil and several other Asian countries (excluding Japan) we need to understand the impact on our own country.

The global view

The industrialised world (the US, Europe, the UK, and Australia) will still be of importance however so we cannot underestimate them, but we need to appreciate the magnitude and purchasing power of consumers in the emerging world, and their influence over the supply and demand of goods that need to be shared amongst the world’s population.

What does this mean for South Africa? We can expect Asia to have increased its interest in South African assets dramatically by 2014 in the form of land ownership, businesses, and increased migration into South Africa. The chart warns us to ensure that these countries do not deplete our natural resources. You can also expect to see far greater trade in goods and services with India and certain South American countries (Brazil, Argentina), at the expense of the US and Europe. Remember, we are a resource rich country (indeed, continent!), and the globe looks to us to supply such resources.

Cycles

What we often don’t appreciate is that interest rates and exchange rates move in cycles, as do food prices and the prices of other essential commodities such as oil, copper, cement, etc - these fluctuations are normal phenomena of the global economy. What tends to happen within such periods however is that people are overwhelmed by the negatives – it’s what happens in the short term, the here and now, that matters (to the majority). To consumers, changes in interest rates, petrol prices, food prices, house prices and the political climate are of importance, and unfortunately losses loom larger than gains - we remember the bad times and tend to forget the good times more quickly- as is the case with so many other things in life. South Africans are feeling somewhat lost and vulnerable, the Sun is peregrine in the 9th, and many citizens are questioning whether or not to emigrate. South Africans are feeling their belt buckles digging into their stomachs right now but this situation is not only relevant to South Africa - it is applicable on a global scale, albeit in varying degrees. Jupiter, the planet of abundance, opportunity and the natural significator of wealth currently posited in Capricorn is essentially in its fall – this is not conducive to financial and material growth or to a bullish market.

Cities and rural areas

Our cities will be much harder hit by the economical cycles than our rural areas which is the norm – those closest to the core of the matter feel the effects first and it takes some time for the ripple to reach outlying areas. However, the problem is compounded in South Africa by many bread winners of families stationed in cities who send their monthly wage home to the rural areas – if there is less money to send then all are affected.

Cycles ending

For South Africa, as with every country, the cycle will turn as it did at the end of sanctions in the 80’s, the end of apartheid and the mass panic by the white’s in the mid 90’s; as it did again after interest rates spiked in ’98, and once again when the rand crashed to over R14 per dollar in 2001/2002. By 2014, it’s difficult to say where we will be, but at the very least there will have been employment gains, interest rates will have declined….and possibly even spiked once again! Overall economic analysts are pretty certain that we would have made economic progress. What’s important is that we implement the right polices to get there, and a key factor in that equation is the political environment that accompanies it together with the state of the global economy.

The government of South Africa

The South African Government has firm commitments underway in the form of investment projects, job creation and the reduction in unemployment, stimulation of new industries, etc to encourage foreign investment. By 2014 the FIFA World Cup would have come and gone and unfortunately the dividends of which may not be as significant as one would have hoped. FIFA has set a very high bar (as it should), and the chart shows that at best SA will match expectations but not exceed them - this is not enough to encourage the mass influx of foreign investment and tourism that is being suggested will be the case. It is clearly depicted in the chart that there will be disappointment and resentment on the part of the people and government as a result of this.

The unemployment rate

Economists are rather silent on whether our unemployment situation will have improved by the targeted 50% reduction (i.e. taking unemployment from around 28% to levels of around 14% by 2014). This is one of the targets government has set itself in the “Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa”, or ASGISA. This is simply the framework that lays out the economic and social targets which need to be achieved by 2014. The chart set for 2014 however does not show our unemployment rate dipping below 20% by then (it’s currently at just over 25%), so that means sustained levels of the poverty that we see around us, and therefore continued incidence of crime (Footnote 1). Another misconception is that the refugees/immigrants are harming the people of South Africa and its country and fuelling the unemployment rate – this is not emphatically the case. The refugees within our borders have nowhere else to go and as a country we have a responsibility towards them. If we are not prepared or able to accept that responsibility then we should not allow them access in the first instance. The chart clearly shows by the peregrine Saturn in the 1st that they are not evil and are not out to harm the country – these people have a love for the government of SA (not the country’s soil per se) and are not an essential threat. Please take cognisance of the fact that legitimate refugees are referred to here, not (foreign and local) opportunists on the crime band wagon.

The disease

Saturn is also the significator of the illness of South Africa – posited in a mutable earth sign showing us that there is more than one symptom and more than one cause - our lack of structure, discipline, levels of authority and responsibility and our weakened state of law and (peregrine) are thus ineffectual. Firmer hands are needed to grasp the reins and to reinstate the Saturnian rulership that is needed to heal the disease. It is here that we need to make mention of our government. Mercury in Gemini placed in its own house is extremely strong and powerful. Our government is essentially good and does not have the intention to harm, but it is in the detriment of the people and is in fact harming them and the country. Mercury as natural ruler of thieves and his natural role as trickster highlight this fundamental issue.

The crime factor

The crime situation is not only a function of the poverty that people face (Footnote 2), but also a function of the attitudes of the leaders of the country. There appears to be this inherent attitude of the promotion of self interest in government, and I think the consensus is that capacity constraints (a nice way of saying a lack of intellectual capital!) are a serious problem. This is the pivotal point on which our future rests – can our government which is essentially strong do what it takes to steer our country through this cycle? The attitude of the people of South Africa is also a fundamental issue that needs to be mentioned – the chart clearly shows that we cannot continue along the path we are on - hatred, violence and bloodshed amongst the people of a country are not conducive to it being able to compete in the first world. It is indicated in the chart that the current government is not moving out of power and that it will possibly serve for another 14 years – those that are in power urgently need to understand the responsibility that has been placed on their shoulders and that they are serving the people of the country and not themselves. A planet in its own sign is essentially good, but its first love is itself!

Jacob Zuma for president

The general consensus is that Jacob Zuma will be the next president of this country. Besides all the emotional bantering that is rife, there are some strong arguments that support this conclusion: Jacob Zuma has very cleverly put all the right structures and bills in place to ensure that he is the man that will represent the ANC in the 2009 election. This is documented and confirmed. He has overwhelming support from the people of the ANC who now know who butters their bread. It has been said that his trial initially scheduled for the 4th of August 2008 will possibly be delayed by several months and legally, there is absolutely nothing stopping him from running in the race, not even an impending trial (innocent till proven guilty rings loud in this country). And finally, it seems Jacob Zuma has been playing his cards surprisingly right since Polokwane….a very smart politician indeed - no mention of his other traits. This will only award him further support from the man in the street.

There are ramifications to the three possible scenarios surrounding the 2009 election which will be held between mid-April and mid-June – i) Zuma is elected president before the trial begins, ii) Zuma is found guilty before the election takes place, iii) Zuma escapes prosecution. These are too extensive to discuss in this article and will be addressed separately when I assess whether or not he will in fact be the next president of South Africa, and if so, the calibre of presidential term of office.

So, if Zuma does make it, then what? It will immediately become evident that the promises he is making are a lot harder to deliver on and just as Mbeki was ousted for non-delivery, so may Jacob Zuma be…if there is a strong enough candidate in 2013. It’s very difficult to say at this time, but there are no candidates around today who I can see challenging him at that stage. If he can maintain the competency of the Mbeki era whilst also making some headway with issues such as crime and AIDS, we actually may be better off in the end. Whatever the outcome, the chart indicates that this country faces some serious challenges over the next 10 years.

The prognosis

I don’t believe the consensus is as worried about some of these issues as they should be, or perhaps they are just not allowed to say (they do represent some rather large financial institutions remember!). I know there are certainly doubts about us reaching our employment targets, but on the inflation and interest rate front (Footnote 3), the South African Reserve Bank has proven its competence in managing these situations and has sufficient depth of leadership to navigate such troubled waters. So, I would say generally, not many economists expect today’s conditions to be sustainable over the longer term.

However, things are likely to get worse before they get any better. Not many analysts dare to look this far into the future though – they can’t even tell you what’s going to happen next month!

The fixed star Denebola posited on the Moon (the electorate as well as co significator of the country and the people) speaks of honour and preferment among the vulgar (the common people) but final disgrace and ruin. This is a warning to the people of South Africa to have a change of heart and to address the rot that has manifested in our society. Mars as Lord 3 is used to determine how our society mirrors the message and call of the Divine from the 9th. Mars is weak and ineffectual (peregrine) and posited in the house of self undoing and sins of the country. Those of us that choose (or have no choice) to live here urgently need to reassess our moral and ethical codes and to determine how we can make a difference to the situation in our country – it is often forgotten that one person CAN make a difference. A definite change of heart is called for by all South Africans, those that take what is not rightfully theirs and those who do not give what rightfully belongs to others to them – both of these are contrary to the fundamental meaning of the word “justice”, which is one of the four cardinal virtues. We may have a democratic society but “just” it is not - in the true sense of the word every man has the right to his own life and it is the “just” responsibility of those in power to enforce rules and laws that maintain all aspects pertaining to the meaning of justice – this is not happening in South Africa today.

The conclusive sentiment

Astrologically the economical and political course that we are on is not as negative as many of those fleeing South Africa believe, it is cyclical and it will right itself – what is of concern is the attitude of the people and the modus operandi used in the name of righting the wrongs from the past. Will the people of South Africa themselves – and I refer to all the people of South Africa, those leaving and those staying behind – be the cause of their own downfall and that of their country and not the government or leaders per se nor the ever encroaching tentacles of (necessary) foreign investors? Man has a certain amount of free will within the parameters set out by the Divine - I pray that we use it responsibly - South Africa is after all a truly magical place on God's earth.

1. The recent xenophobia developments are transitory in my opinion. These matters are not likely to stick with us. Personally, I think things are going to get better in Zim, which I can almost assure you will be the case by 2014. Up till this week, I was very doubtful that Mugabe would step down this year, maintaining the grip on his nation and driving them into further turmoil over the next few years. Things seem to be changing for the better though. When they do, I think it will be a significant plus not only for Zim, but for SA as well. Our other African neighbors are making headway too.
2. It is often argued that there are other places in the world which face even worse poverty conditions, yet violent crime is not on the same scale as it is in SA. My opinion: the value system facing society is just as important, and unfortunately, if people are not raised to appreciate the value of life or to respect personal property, then the kind of attitude they adopt in life is likely to reflect that. One implication: the violent crime we experience will be structurally embedded in our society for some time to come.
3. And so by implication on the economic growth and consumer wellbeing front.