BizNews Conference: New US envoy Brent Bozell’s first public address in SA: Trade, trust and tough truths...

In his first public address since arriving in South Africa, new US Ambassador Brent Bozell delivered a candid keynote that mixed optimism about the country’s economic potential with sharp warnings about the direction of bilateral relations.

Speaking to the BizNews Conference audience and later in a short Q&A with Alec Hogg, Bozell praised South Africa’s entrepreneurial depth, financial sophistication and strategic importance to Washington, while arguing that policy uncertainty, BEE-related ownership requirements, expropriation fears, rural safety concerns and Pretoria’s alignment with adversaries such as Iran are undermining investor confidence.

He pointed to major recent US investments by Visa, Google, Microsoft and Amazon as proof of America’s long-term commitment.

But, he stressed that stronger ties will depend on reciprocity, clearer rules and a more level playing field.

His core message: the US still sees South Africa as a potentially important partner, but patience is wearing thin and the moment calls for candour, reform and renewed non-alignment.

Watch the video and decide for yourself. Chris Wilkinson.

Accountability Begins With Us...

It's easy to point fingers.

It's easy to complain about politicians, officials, neighbours, employers, or even family members.

We often say, “They must be held accountable.” And that is true.

Any healthy society depends on accountability.

But there is a question we do not always ask ourselves:

How can we hold others to account if we are not accountable ourselves?

Accountability is not something we can demand only from others.

• It is something we must practice in our own lives first.
• If we expect honesty, we must be honest.
• If we expect hard work, we must work hard.
• If we expect integrity, we must live with integrity.

Otherwise, our words carry very little weight.

It is much easier to see the faults of others than to see our own.

We notice when leaders fail to keep promises, but do we always keep ours?

We complain when services are poor, but do we always do our part as citizens?

We want organisations to be transparent, but are we always truthful in our own dealings?

Real accountability starts with personal responsibility.

When we take responsibility for our own actions, something changes.

We speak with more authority because we know we are trying to live by the same standards we expect from others.

People may not always agree with us, but they will respect us.

There is strength in saying, “I am not perfect, but I am doing my part.”

• Communities become stronger when individuals accept this principle.
• A town improves when its residents care enough to get involved.
• A workplace improves when employees take pride in what they do.
• A country improves when citizens participate, vote, volunteer, and contribute.

Accountability is not only about demanding better leadership.

It is about becoming better people.

Before we ask, “Why are they not doing their job?” we should also ask, “Am I doing mine?”

This does not mean we should stop holding others responsible.

We should insist on accountability from those in positions of power.

But our voices are stronger when we can say that we are trying to live by the same rules.

If we want a better society, the place to start is not in parliament, not in city hall, not in someone else’s office.

The place to start is with ourselves.

With very best wishes,

Chris Wilkinson.
Messenger of Hope.

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A Must Read for ALL South Afri-CANs...

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With very best wishes

Chris Wilkinson.

Messenger of Hope.

There Are No Jobs Out There - But There Is a Lot of Work to be Done...

 Everywhere you go, you hear the same complaint:

“There are no jobs.”

Young people say it. Older people say it. Newspapers repeat it. Politicians debate it.

And in many ways, it’s true.

Formal employment is scarce. Companies are cutting back. Governments are stretched.

The traditional path — finish school, get a job, stay there for years — no longer works for everyone.

But here is something we don’t talk about enough:

There may not be many jobs… but there is a tremendous amount of work.

Look around your town or city. 

• There are potholes that need filling.

• Elderly people who need assistance.

• Children who need tutoring.

• Gardens that need tending.

• Websites that need building.

• Businesses that need social media help.

• Communities that need cleaning and organising.

• Homes that need painting.

• People who need encouragement.

Work is everywhere.

What’s missing is NOT work. What’s missing is someone willing to see it differently.

A job is something someone gives you. Work is something you find. Or create.

A job comes with a title and a salary structure. Work often starts with initiative.

We have been conditioned to wait. Wait for the advertisement. Wait for the interview. Wait for approval.

But the world is changing. Those who move ahead are those who stop waiting.

Instead of asking, “Who will hire me?” ask, “What needs doing around me?”

Instead of saying, “There are no jobs,” say, “Where can I be useful?”

That shift in thinking changes everything.

It may begin small.

• Washing cars on a Saturday. 
• Fixing computers. 
• Cutting grass. 
• Running errands. 
• Starting a small online service. 
• Helping local businesses with tasks they don’t have time for. 
• Selling a skill you already have.

None of this may look like a “proper job” at first.

But every established business began as someone doing work that needed to be done.

Work builds reputation. Work builds confidence. Work builds relationships.

Work builds income. Slowly at first, then steadily.

Of course, this does not remove the real challenges of unemployment.

It does not excuse poor economic policy or lack of growth.

But while those larger issues are debated, we still have choices.

We can sit and wait for a job. Or we can go looking for work.

There is dignity in work, even when it is small.

There is power in being useful.

And there is hope in taking action instead of surrendering to despair.

The truth is this:

• There are no jobs out there. If we only look for jobs.
• But there is work everywhere. If we are willing to see it.

And sometimes, the person who goes out and does the work ends up creating the job.

With very best wishes,

Chris Wilkinson.

Wilko's Weekly: I Do What I Do Because It Makes Me Feel Good...

 People sometimes ask why I write.

Why I post messages of hope. Why I keep going, week after week.

The honest answer is simple:

I do what I do because it makes me feel good.

That may sound selfish at first.

Shouldn’t we do things for others?

Shouldn’t we be motivated by service, duty, or obligation?

Yes ! But here is something we don’t talk about enough:

• Doing good feels good.

• Encouraging someone lifts the encourager.

• Sharing hope strengthens the one who shares it.

• Writing positive words plants those words in the reader’s mind.

• But also in the writer’s heart.

When I sit down to write something uplifting, I feel better.

• My thinking becomes clearer.

• My mood shifts.

• My perspective improves.

• I am reminded of what really matters.

In a world where so much noise pulls us downward, choosing to focus on what is good is not just helpful.

It is healing.

And here’s the interesting part:

• When you do something that makes you feel good (without harming anyone), that goodness spreads.

• A kind word offered freely.

• A thoughtful message shared.

• A reminder that things are not as dark as they seem.

• These small acts ripple outward. But they also ripple inward.

We are often told to chase happiness as if it were a prize somewhere out there.

In truth, happiness often arrives as a by-product.

It comes when we contribute. When we create. When we give.

I don’t write because I have all the answers.

I don’t post because I am trying to be important.

I do it because when I send a positive message I feel much better.

It steadies me.

At my stage of life, I have learned something simple:

If something honest and constructive makes you feel good, do more of it.

• Not for applause.

• Not for recognition.

• Not for money.

• But because it also strengthens your own spirit.

And that is reason enough.

If what you do makes you feel good, and leaves the world a little lighter, then keep doing it.

Our World needs more of that.

With very best wishes,

Chris Wilkinson.

Why I Belong to (and Support) One Political Party...

 I am a member of a political party, and I donate to it as well.

I do this deliberately, and for a simple reason.

If I expect a political party to work for me, I must first be willing to belong to it and support it.

This idea isn’t unique to politics. We accept it quite naturally in other parts of life.

If you belong to a sports club, you pay membership fees.

If you’re part of a community organisation, you contribute time, money, or both.

These contributions keep the organisation alive, active, and able to serve its members.

Without them, the club or organisation simply cannot function.

A political party is no different.

Political parties do not exist in a vacuum.

They need offices, volunteers, administration, communication, and the ability to organise and campaign.

All of this costs money and effort.

When members contribute financially, they are not “buying influence”. They are sharing responsibility.

Belonging also matters.

Membership is not just a card or a name on a list. It is a signal of commitment.

It says, I care enough about this vision, these values, and this direction to be part of it.

It also gives members a stronger voice, because real influence comes from taking part.

Not from standing on the sidelines and complaining.

We expect political parties to deliver results while keeping our distance from them.

We criticise, complain, and demand change.

But without engaging, joining, or contributing.

That approach weakens democracy rather than strengthening it.

Supporting a political party through membership and donations is a form of civic responsibility.

It is an acknowledgement that democracy is not a spectator sport.

If we want better governance, we must help to build what makes it possible.

Just like a sports club or a community organisation.

A political party works best when its members are invested.

Not only emotionally or ideologically, but practically as well.

In short, I belong, and I donate because I believe responsibility goes hand in hand with expectation.

If I want the party to work for me, I must be willing to support and contribute to it.

With very best wishes,

Chris Wilkinson.

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We Don’t Have to Be Experts to Give Advice...

One reason many people stay silent is that they believe they are “not qualified” to speak.

We tell ourselves that our opinions don’t matter.

Unless we have degrees, titles, or years of formal experience,

So we hold back, even when we’ve learned something the hard way.

But life doesn’t work like that. 

Some of the most valuable advice does not come from "experts".

It comes from ordinary people.

Those who have lived, struggled, failed, tried again, and learned a few lessons along the way.

Experience, not expertise, is often what makes advice useful.

You don’t need to be a mechanic to warn someone that ignoring strange noises in their car is a bad idea.

You don’t need to be a financial adviser to say that living beyond your means causes stress.

And you don’t need to be a psychologist to say that kindness, patience, and listening can make a difference.

What matters is honesty.

Good advice is not about pretending to know everything.

It’s about saying, “This is what I’ve learned,” or “This is what worked for me”.

Or even, “This is what I wish I had known earlier.”

That kind of advice doesn’t lecture. It Shares.

Of course, there are times when expert advice is essential.

We should not replace doctors, engineers, or legal professionals with guesswork.

But much of everyday life is not about technical expertise.

It’s about choices, attitudes, habits, and values.

And on those things, many of us are well qualified.

We should also remember that advice does not have to be perfect to be helpful.

Sometimes a simple reminder, a word of encouragement, or a gentle warning is enough.

The listener can decide what to accept and what to ignore.

When we silence ourselves because we think we are “not experts,” we lose something valuable.

Shared Wisdom.

Communities grow stronger when people talk about what they have learned.

Not when everyone waits for permission to speak.

So if you have learned something useful, say it.

Share it humbly, without claiming authority.

Offer it, not as a command, but as a contribution.

You don’t have to be an expert to give advice.

You just have to be honest, thoughtful, and willing to help.

I hope this article helps you a little.

With very best wishes,

Chris Wilkinson.

Is your Retirement something to look forward to?

 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 your later years.

Travel.

If you can afford it, make up for all those holidays you missed out on because of work.

Visit friends and family you haven't seen for a long time.

Especially kids and grandchildren.

Make the most of them while you can.

Or take a cruise. It'll do wonders for you.

Fix up the house.

You've got the time now.

Fix all those irritating things you've put off for years.

Or paid someone else to do.

You can save a great deal of money by doing it yourself, while improving the value of the house.

For the day you sell and move to the retirement village.

There are so many things we can do. We just have to do them.

The most important thing is that we enjoy our Retirement!

Happy Days!

With very best wishes,

Chris Wilkinson.

Why Every South African Citizen Must Vote in Local Elections...

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 political groups, not ordinary citizens.

When fewer people vote, a small minority ends up deciding for everyone.

Complaining later does not undo that decision.

If you don’t vote, you cannot expect better services.

Or better leadership, and accountability.

Local Elections Are Where Change Is Most Possible

National politics feels distant and overwhelming.

Local politics is different.

At the municipal level:

• Your vote carries more weight

• Independent candidates can win

• Smaller parties can make a real impact

• Councillors are accessible and local

Many positive changes in South Africa have started at the local level.

Where the citizens held leaders accountable and demanded results.

Voting Is About Responsibility, Not Loyalty

Voting is not about being loyal to a party. It is about being loyal to your community.

You are not voting for slogans or history. You are voting for:

• Competence

• Integrity

• Service delivery

• Transparency

If a party or councillor has failed your community, voting them out is not betrayal.

It is democracy working as it should.

Democracy Does Not Work Without Citizens

Democracy is not self-sustaining. It only works when citizens involve themselves..

Every right we enjoy today — including the right to vote — came at a cost.

Many South Africans fought, suffered, and died for this freedom.

Choosing not to vote weakens the system meant to protect us all.

Your Vote Is Your Voice

Voting is not a miracle cure.

It does not fix everything overnight.

But it is the foundation on which accountability is built.

When citizens vote:

• Leaders know they are being watched

• Poor performance has consequences

• Good governance is rewarded

If we want functioning towns. Safer communities. And a better future for our children.

We must start where it matters most. And that is with local government elections.

Use Your Power

Local elections are not about politics in theory. They are about your life in practice.

Register - Show Up - Vote.

Because if you don’t choose who governs your community, someone else will.

And you may not like the result.

With very best wishes,

Chris Wilkinson. 

First, Do the Work. Then Tell Us What You Have Done...

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 us what they are going to do, we don't know if they will succeed.

When they show us what they have already done, the evidence speaks for itself.

This applies everywhere:

• In government, where citizens are tired of speeches but hungry for service delivery.

• In business, where customers value performance over promises.

• In communities, where real progress is made by those who roll up their sleeves.

• In our personal lives, where character is revealed through consistent action.

Let the Work Speak

There is quiet confidence in action.

People who focus on doing the work rarely need to convince others of their worth.

Their results do that for them.

This does not mean we should never speak about plans or ideas.

Vision matters. Direction matters. But words should follow work, not replace it.

Announcements without action eventually breed cynicism.

Action without fanfare builds respect.

A Simple Measure of Leadership

The simplest way to judge leadership is this: Not what is promised, but what is delivered.

Not what is said before the fact, but what can be shown afterwards.

Those who truly serve understand this instinctively.

They do the work first.

Then they tell the story of what was achieved.

Clearly, honestly, and without exaggeration.

Less Talk. More Doing.

In a world overflowing with noise, action stands out.

So let us value those who build quietly.

Let us reward results rather than rhetoric.

And let us remember, in our own lives as well:

First, do the work. Then tell us what you have done.

With very best wishes,

Chris Wilkinson.

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