Photo by [Freepik]
It’s been a strange year. One minute we’re instructed to wear masks. Next, countries are banning any form of facial covering. One minute we’re united against COVID. Next, we’re divided on other geopolitical issues.
For South Africans, we figured the year was doomed since a Parliament building was set alight in the Western Cape, setting the tone of how the rest of the year could go.
The rise in the cost of living, inflation and unemployment placed many South Africans in an awkward spot when it came to money. Perhaps we should’ve taken a page out of President Ramaphosa’s book and stored funds under our mattress for rainy days.
Severe floods in KwaZulu Natal worsened the decay of critical infrastructure. The failure of the sewage and drainage system would see filth contaminate rivers and beaches in the province. The N3 might not be as busy as it used to be, considering Durban has lost its popularity as the most sought-after holiday spot.
After a year of load shedding, Eskom should consider using Red Bull as its energy source. Indeed, the future doesn’t look bright for the energy supplier. Unsurprisingly, former CEO Andre de Ruyter resigned after a failed attempt to combat the scourge of national power outages. Under his watch, South Africa would go on to experience one of the worst periods of load shedding. Still ongoing as I type in the dark.
The Tragedy of Prime Ministers
This year hasn’t been particularly kind to Prime Ministers. It all began to unravel when Boris Johnson couldn’t abide by the COVID restrictions. He subsequently denied actual footage of him having a blast during the pandemic. And as the scandals mounted, he could do only one thing. Resign.
Amidst all the confusion appeared a bright light. Liz Truss made her grand appearance on the right side of the stage. Being only the third female PM, Truss promised the British public a way out of a looming economic recession by cutting taxes.
However, her stint would make her the shortest-serving PM in British history. An underwhelming performance on her part, unable to survive the first act. However, her understudy, Rishi Sunak, proved an election race is a marathon and not a sprint.
As the misfortune goes, Imran Khan, the former Pakistani PM, was ousted after the National Assembly issued a vote of no confidence. His ousting does not come as a new experience for the former cricket captain.
His story, however, does not end there. Khan would later survive an attempted assassination. Unlike Khan, the former PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe, was fatally shot from behind while delivering a speech at a political event. As I said, this year hasn’t been kind to Prime Ministers.
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Women Fighting the Good Fight
Women must have experienced one of their most challenging years yet. Coupled with prominent issues, women had to endure the emergence of Andrew Tate.
South African and global media outlets have mainly been curious about the hardships and education of women in the Middle East. What we saw was a magician’s trick. Diverting attention by having audiences look elsewhere while ignoring the high number of violent crimes committed against women in our own country.
Femicide and Gender Based Violence remain prominent in South Africa. Thousands of women are still being raped, beaten and killed by the opposite sex. Suppose there is any hope in the Justice system. In that case, we hope it acts swiftly for the women who have been victims of these horrible crimes.
Muslim women in Iran have shown strength, bravery and courage. They have protested endlessly against the killing of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the Morality Police. The protests saw Iranian women defy the state by removing their Hijab.
In Europe, Switzerland has been steadily trying to implement a law that would see many people, specifically Muslim women, who cover their faces fined a few hundred euros. If we look back a few months, countries were ready to imprison people for not wearing masks, and now they’re doing the exact opposite.
Russia Invades Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has set the tone of global affairs since the start of the year. The military operation has caused mass displacement of the Ukrainian people, global economic and energy insecurity and spiking inflation.
Apart from the invasion, racial discrimination had made its way into the war. African and Asian people living in Ukraine were discriminated against when citizens were being evacuated to various safe zones. There was also a willingness to accept Ukrainian refugees expressed by Europe and the UK.
They’re more likely to accept people who look like them with blonde hair and blue eyes, which was the rhetoric of many western reporters. Middle Eastern refugees were being flown to Rwanda after the African nation struck a deal with the British government.
In light of the economic sanctions imposed on Russia, global citizens have been bearing the brunt. In many ways, the sanctions have had a reverse effect.
Since the decision was made, the sanctions sent European countries dependent on the Russian energy supply into a downward spiral. It had adverse effects on global economies and food inflation. It also drew Russia closer to global superpowers such as China, who are benefitting from Russia’s discounted services.
The latest wave of sanctions would see a price cap placed on the Russian seaborne oil supply. This meant Russia could not ship and distribute oil to various points unless it was sold at $60 or less. As expected, Russian representatives said they would not adhere to it.
There is also a growing interest in countries like Saudi Arabia, which is looking to become a member of the world’s emerging economies. Saudi Arabia, for decades, has been a key partner to the US and its allies. However, this year would see them favour the east over the west. As we know, strategic alliances are built one BRICS at a time.
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Israel/Palestine
I honestly thought this year, Israel’s crimes against the Palestinians would gain the same global reaction as the Ukrainians have. I would be sorely mistaken.
It’s the same song and dance. Israeli forces and settlers continue to kill and oppress Palestinians at an alarming rate, with little to no intervention by global organisations.
Israeli forces upped the ante by barricading an entire city. And if that was not enough, settlers invaded a school which they vandalised and then beat students and teachers. The assassination of Shireen Abu Akleh is a prime example of the Israeli force’s disregard for human life.
What is interesting about this year is unlike previous years, the Palestinian cause didn’t get lost in the wind. They say sport unites, and we saw unity for the Palestinians in Qatar’s FIFA World Cup.
Worldwide, football supporters brandished the Palestinian flag and keffiyeh. One voice in different languages echoed the words “Free Palestine.”
If there was a defining moment of 2022, it wouldn’t be the can of worms Russia opened up on the world, nor would it be Morocco’s incredible run in the FIFA World Cup, being the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.
It would be the solidarity shown by different people with the Palestinian cause. In a time when Israel’s aggression against them only increased, people are starting to see Israel for what they are, beyond its state propaganda and media gaslighting. For the first time in the longest time, people from different regions are uniting with the Palestinians.
As for the other issues, the future is uncertain. No one knows what will happen tomorrow. It’s said it’s always darkest before dawn. Let’s hope it’s true.
