Wilko's Messages of Hope

  Retirement - after working most of our adult lives, we now face the daunting prospect. No more managers to tell us what to do. No more clocking in or out. Our time is, at long last, our own. What are we going to do with it? Even though we may have saved enough for our later years, there's always something that crops up to rock the boat. Keeping busy is the most important. If not for the money, for our own health and peace of mind. Here are just a few tips, gathered from many sources, to help in your plans: Live within your means. Try to stick to a budget. Only buy what you need, when you need it. IF you need it at all. Buying just because it's on "special" is a waste of money. Buying anything in bulk eats cash flow. You may need that cash for something else very soon. An emergency. Don't buy what you cannot afford to. Never use credit to buy instant gratification stuff. In fact, never buy anything on credit. It will always bounce back to hurt you. More so in yo...

In this candid and hard-hitting interview, Alec Hogg speaks to Gerhard Papenfus, CEO of the National Employers’ Association of South Africa. About his open letter condemning Black Economic Empowerment. Papenfus argues that BEE has distorted markets, damaged entrepreneurship, and entrenched elitism rather than broad-based upliftment. He challenges prevailing political narratives, questions the sustainability of empowerment through ownership transfers. And calls for merit-based economic reform to restore growth, accountability, and genuine inclusion.

South Africa is tired of noise. So we went straight to the engine room. A blunt, no-soft-questions conversation with COSATU’s Matthew Parks. In this episode of the Truth Report, Rob Hersov sits down with COSATU parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parks for a fearless, wide-ranging interview on the real mechanics behind jobs, policy, corruption. And why SA’s economic recovery keeps stalling. We dig into the mining “cadastral” bottleneck, the truth about BEE beyond the headlines, minimum wage vs living wage, and why politicians keep rewarding failure. This is political commentary without the theatre: facts, pressure, and uncomfortable honesty.

Behind the political theatre, the US economy is surging. Anthony Ginsberg warns that South Africa’s foreign and trade policy lag reality.

The ANC is weaker than it’s been in decades — and yet the DA is still finding ways to trip over its own feet. In a world moving toward transactional power politics (and a possible Trump-driven reset), South Africa’s opposition can’t afford amateur hour. This episode is a blunt look at the DA’s strategic problem: discipline, message clarity, coalition math's, and credibility — and why 2026/2029 are on the line. In this episode we cover: -Why the DA has the best opening in years — and how it risks wasting it -The DA’s biggest failure mode: internal fights, mixed messaging, and self-inflicted scandals -Why the opposition must look like a government-in-waiting, not a protest movement -The coalition reality: what it takes to win metros in 2026 and build momentum for 2029 -How global shifts (Trump-era transactional politics) punish weak states — and why SA needs a credible alternative -Why “moral positioning” doesn’t win elections — service delivery + growth + safety does -The voter pr...

When local government fails, daily life becomes harder. Roads crumble. Water runs dry. Refuse piles up. Streetlights stay broken. These are not national problems debated in Parliament far away. They are local problems, decided by councils elected where we live. That is why local elections matter. And that is why every South African citizen must vote in them. Local Government Affects Your Everyday Life Local councils control the services we depend on every day: Water and sanitation Electricity distribution Roads and transport Refuse removal Town planning and housing Community safety and by-laws If your municipality is failing, it shows up in your home, your street, and your neighbourhood. Voting is the most direct way citizens can influence the decisions made by those in power. Not Voting Is Also a Choice — With Consequences Many people say, “Voting doesn’t change anything.” But not voting guarantees one thing: you hand your power to others . Low voter turnout benefits organised politi...

In this hard-hitting breakdown, we expose why South Africa is already halfway to becoming the next Venezuela. This crisis is not accidental, not misunderstood, and not temporary. It is ideological, deliberate, and man-made. From collapsing state-owned enterprises and capital flight to failed socialist policies and political cowardice, this video lays out the uncomfortable truth government refuses to admit. And the reforms required to reverse course before it’s too late. This is South Africa’s last exit. Ignore it, and history will not be kind.

Iran is burning, and the world is hesitating. Economist Iraj Abedian delivers a raw, emotional account of a nation held hostage by its own regime. Why South Africa’s silence is so troubling. And why Donald Trump may now be the only wild card left, as thousands are killed behind an information blackout.

In this week’s Truth Report Live, Joe Emilio is joined by Gareth Cliff, THEE Sama Sambit, and André Faro. A fast-moving, no-fluff conversation that jumps from the ANC’s January 8 birthday rally optics to the BEE debate blowing up again after a minister’s “white supremacy” remark. We unpack what the empty seats could signal, why so many South Africans feel politically exhausted, how labels get used to shut down debate, and why “someone must save us” is a trap that keeps the country stuck. On the panel • Joe Emilio • Gareth Cliff • THEE Sama Sambit • André Faro Topics covered • ANC January 8 rally turnout, optics, and what it might mean • The “debate BEE = white supremacy” remark, and the backlash • Why identity politics and slogans keep replacing results • “Stop waiting for a saviour”, what accountability actually looks like • Viewer comments, live reactions, and real talk about the state of South Africa.

We live in an age of promises. Every day, we are told what will be done. What is planned. What is coming soon, and what someone intends to do for us. Politicians announce grand visions. Organisations release glossy strategies. Individuals speak about future achievements. Yet too often, very little actually changes. There is a simple principle that cuts through all the noise: First, do the work. Then tell us what you have done. Promises Are Easy. Action Is Not. Talking about action costs nothing. Doing the work requires effort, discipline, and perseverance. It means facing obstacles instead of explaining them away. It means continuing when no one is watching and no applause is guaranteed. Real work is often slow. It seldom looks impressive while it is happening. That is why it is so tempting to talk about it instead. But intentions, no matter how sincere, do not improve lives. Results do. Credibility Is Earned. Trust is not built on plans. It is built on outcomes. When someone tells ...