In South Africa at present, life is confusing.

The chief of the National Prosecuting Authority, Vusi Pikoli, has been suspended because he had obtained an arrest warrant against the national police commissioner, Jackie Selebi.

An inquiry has been set up to probe Pikoli and his suitability to hold his job. The inquiry is headed by the ex-speaker, Frene Ginwala, and is expected to run for months at a huge expense.

In the meantime, Selebi tried and failed to prevent the NPA from charging him with corruption, fraud, etc.

In light of this, the inquiry into Pikoli still goes ahead.

The famous arms-deal corruption scandal is ongoing. A key player in the case so far, Tony Yengeni, was, in another case, prosecuted and convicted of corruption.

His jail term was cut short and he was given parole under strict conditions.

He now faces court for breaking these rules.

In the meantime, he has been appointed to the panel responsible for carrying out a probe into the arms-deal scandal.

The president of the ANC, Jacob Zuma, has spent the last two years in court on several charges, including corruption.

White-collar and public-service corruption is totally out of control, with thousands of civil servants taking up court time.

The population of South Africa is living in either debt or poverty.

More policemen in South Africa are shot by their own colleagues in one year than all police shot for any reason in the history of Australia.

More policemen commit suicide in South Africa than anywhere else on the planet.

More people are murdered in South Africa than in Iraq.

Rape in South Africa occurs at a rate of more than one per minute.

Armed robbery and hijackings occur in the hundreds per week.

But ask any South African and they will tell you what a beautiful place South Africa is to live in.

It is unrivalled by any other country, especially that place full of filthy convicts and foul mouths - Australia

Larry Piggott
Bedfordview, Gauteng

With acknowledgements to Larry Piggott and The Star.