SOUTH Africa’s biggest golf tournament, the Nedbank Challenge is starting amidst threats of labour action by Cosatu.
The trade union is not happy with the labour practices of the Sun City resort, which hosts the tournament and it may or may not have grounds for its disgruntlement.
But what is striking about this protest is its timing. The golf tournament is a major feature of South Africa’s global brand, projecting the country as a world-class tourist destination capable of hosting A-list players and putting on a show.
To threaten a strike on the eve of the tournament is to place the narrow short-time interests of the union ahead of those of the country.
There are real fears that this “ransomist” philosophy will strike as the World Cup approaches, with industries such as transport, hospitality and tourism sensing that they could gain a few bob at the expense of the nation’s global prestige.
There is even – given recent history – the possibility that the Bafana Bafana players might cash in with their traditional eve-of-tournament strike threat for more money.
This type of labour action strongly suggests that the unions do not place the nation’s interests ahead of their own and it ought to be a cause for concern with our political leadership.
South Africa has been blessed with the hosting of the World Cup and it is only chance this country will have for decades to come to make a good impression to a skeptical world audience.
We must all suck it up and put on a good show. Our countries global image will be cast by this tournament and we could walk out of it a winning nation that is loved by the world.
Or we could be the rude, obnoxious and selfish nation that only thinks about the next buck.

Related posts:

1. 2010 World Cup will see massive national strikes
2. A national general strike during the World Cup will destroy our image for generations
3. World Cup 2010: We must wear our African colours
4. Here we go: It’s World Cup strike season!
5. One year to 2010: SA’s biggest moment on the world stage