Why I Belong to (and Support) a 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.

Helen Zille - Talking Sense with Gabriel Makin...

Chairperson of The DA Federal Executive and Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille joined Gabriel Makin to talk about:

• Johannesburg,
• the Race for Mayor,
• the ideology of the DA,
• and the difference between the ANC and DA.

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.

BEE is breaking South Africa - Gerhard Papenfus v Gwede Mantashe...

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.

ROB HERSOV & MATTHEW PARKS: Inside COSATU’s Power: Matthew Parks on Fixing South Africa...

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.