I was just back in SA for a visit after moving to Europe 6 years ago and literally half my luggage going back north was chips.

Does anywhere in the world compare with SA's chip game? I think not. So many delicious old favourites, so many amazing new and creative flavours. I would have turned into a chip had my visit been longer.

BBQ Big Korn Bites will always be no. 1 for me, but the white cheddar and cranberry Lays are giving them a run for their money IMO. Also, Jumping Jack popcorn not being available globally is a travesty.

SA has its problems but chips are not one of them 🙌

We went for dinner last night at Spur and there's so much missing... It's not the Spur that 10 year old me remembers, I know times change and franchises adapt, grow and evolve but this much evolution has taken the taste for life out of the Spur.

They no longer do the famous Hot Rock which was my favourite thing to order where you get to finish off your steak on a preheated "rock" at your table.

The placemats have undergone the dreaded corporatisation of being dull grey and black woven plastic mats and no longer the leather placemats with the Spur story 😔

What happened to the snails?? Spur was well known for their snail starters??

Are we really paying R150 for a plate of nachos now? Blow me dead.

The burger buns?? Are they supplied by McDonald's? They're paper thin! The patties have become steers size too.

Why are they still claiming that their Buffalo wings are 16 wings when it's actually 8 wings cut in 2?

Where did all the outback wild wild west decor go? The cowboy prints and native Indian murals?

We ordered two cocktails and asked them to please not fill the glasses with ice, we wanted a little bit of ice, so we received half filled cocktail glasses. They wouldn't even top up the remaining glass space with soda water?

Spur is a core childhood memory but it's not that spur anymore.

Which other restaurants have lost their hearts to the stock exchange?

We're looking for privately owned restaurants to visit now, that still serve with the love for people and food, and Burger buns that are actually buns, not rounded slices of Albany bread

EDIT TO ADD

WHERE has the chocolate brownies gone?? Spur had by far, the best brownies, of all restaurants. They no longer serve them??

It's not like they are trying to sell cheap BS from overseas, they MAKE this product in their store, any employee with a smartphone can take 20 photos and one of those should be able to be photoshopped into a culinary delight.

And to add insult to injury not only did they opt for an AI image they also chose the image of the driest ass Boerie in all of the worlds... (Who the heck OKed that... Also this poster has been up for at least 3 weeks, how has this not been flagged as an issue yet...)

The second image is the Spar group's advertising, it is not limited to this store. I get weekly SMSs from 3 different Spar stores and they all have these AI flyers.

I know this is the world we live in now, and I know marketing photos weren't 100% raw before but morally speaking are there or should there be a line between tweaking/marketing and straight up AI or is this simply a natural progression I need to deal with?

It looks like Woolworths is using AI in its branding.
My immediate response is to feel disappointed when they taut their beliefs in sustainable farming.

Especially this green can. See if you spot it.

Smh

Edit for those who don’t see it:

One of the sepals of the big tomato is fusing into the next stem.

To wit:

1. Both have rape charges hanging over their heads.
   1. Except Trump has a conviction.
2. Both have used the office to enrich themselves to the tune of millions - if not billions.
3. Both have criminal convictions.
4. Both have soup for brains.
5. Both have incited insurrection.
6. Both are hostile to the press.
7. Both are hostile to democracy.
8. Both are hostile to the rule of law.
9. Both are mentioned in the Epstein files.
   1. Except Trump was buddy-buddy with Epstein.
10. Both have sold their governments to the highest bidder.
11. Both have engaged in racist, sexist, and/or homophobic rhetoric.

The main difference is that at least we know that Zuma showers while Trump seems to just marinate in a diaper full of shit.

So either MAGA South Africans have a preference for poopy diapers over showers, or the main factor that triggers them is that Zuma, a black man, had the audacity to play a white man's game.

This is also true for people who love Zuma but hate Trump.

At least Zuma has some actual liberation credentials to his name.

So by now, I think that this topic is on everyone’s lips. South Africa has been buzzing since president Ramaphosa signed the EWC bill.

I have a question: Are the white Afrikaans farmers really unwanted in South Africa?

Let me elaborate, and I know I cannot be speaking for everyone. But I can speak for myself. I grew up on our family farm and learned the basics of farming from a very young age. I have never supported any form of apartheid, and never will. My grandfather was a white afrikaans farmer who was an activist against apartheid. The family farm was eventually sold to the government and I have not received a cent of the money the farm was sold for (I was not entitled to receive anything) but, I’ve had the privilege of marrying into a family where my father in law gave me the opportunity to be able to farm.

My father in law started from a bankrupt position and managed to rent a farm in 1985. Through years of dedication and hard work, he eventually managed to get into the financial position to buy the farm he was renting. From there, he continued his success story to where he is today, being in a position where he could offer me the opportunity which I am extremely grateful.

Today, I have 10 black employees on the farm. Some of them who have shown loyalty and dedication have received livestock from me, and have their own herd of animals of which we take care of as if they were our own. No strings attached. They could sell them at any time if they so wished, but are limited to a certain number. My point is. On my farm, we try to uplift the lives of the people who work for us. We share the resources. Free housing, free vegetables, free eggs, free meat, free milk and on top of that, we allow them to run their own animals on the farm, free of charge. All we ask for in return, is dedication, commitment and loyalty. And in doing so, everyone’s animals thrive. And when the animals thrive, the farm thrives. If the farm thrives, all of us thrives. Yes, the bulk of the money generated on the farm comes to us, but that money then literally gets ploughed back into the farm so that we can all have a better life.

I do not view my black “employees” as employees. I view them as part of our farm family. Everyone working hand in hand together, so that we can all have a better future and opportunities.

Now my reality check. Do these people who live and work with us every day, really want us as white farmers to leave South Africa? When I mentioned this to my foreman, his eyes shot full of tears and he asked me: “Mlungu, what will become of us if you go?” So I think the answer to this question is satisfied. My next question: Is it not time that the ANC get onto the farms and have their own reality check with the people on ground level? Who has lost touch with reality here? The white farmers? Or the ANC?

We will not be going anywhere. We will stay. We have a responsibility and a commitment towards our fellow South Africans to put food on everyone’s tables. To uplift the people we work with so hard, everyday to make the farm successful.

I cannot help everyone in this country, but I can do my part for the people who work the land with me. Even under relentless political and economic pressure.

Sometimes though, I ask myself. What are we doing it for? Maybe the black South Africans really do not want us here. Maybe it is time to move and to rebuild a different future somewhere else for our children.

A concerned white afrikaans farmer.

I was born in SA but my parents come from another African country but are citizens(came legally, did the papers etc.)Thankfully, because of my parents’ hard work my family and I grew up with more opportunities than most.

I went to all English-speaking educational institutions where I took Afrikaans First Additional Language and continued with it into high school even though my high school offered Sepedi because I was already used to Afrikaans.I took French Second Additional as well and fell in love with the language so I continued with it into uni and have a few certifications in it.Other than that I’ve only ever lived in or found myself in English-speaking communities ranging from racially diverse to majority-white.

I don’t know any indigenous African languages at all, not even my mother tongue( though I can understand bits and pieces when my parents talk).Because of this, my accent is different from what most people expect.I often get asked if I’m from the UK or the US. In high school I’d sometimes get the “Oreo” or “acting white allegations” mostly from South African black people but that discourse never phased me.

Because I am black, though, my interactions with black South Africans are different. When I’m approached, I’m spoken to in Vernacular and when I respond in English it’s obvious by then that I’m “not from around”😅.And once they see my last name they ask where I’m from😂And up until about a year ago I never minded explaining because 99% of the black South Africans I met were genuinely interested
and curious and it made for an interesting conversation.

Then one day(a year ago),I was shopping with a Xhosa friend of mine and a lady ahead of us in the queue asked in Vernacular to borrow a SmartShopper card(which neither of us had).A man behind did though but he said outright that my not knowing Vernacular was unacceptable especially given I spent my whole life here.My friend and I felt weird about the situation but we spoke about which language I should learn first on the way home.I picked up Zulu on Duolingo that day.Kept at it for a while but it fizzled out.

The second time was Friday in an afternoon class where an acquaintance(a black South African woman) brought up my accent again.

With the growing tensions surrounding illegal immigration and the March and March protests, I’ve had to catch myself when talking about where I’m from. I always just say “My parents are from X, I was born here.”. We’re(my family and me) all legal but the whole situation has brought people’s opinions on any immigration to the surface, so I was encouraged to be cautious nonetheless.In my uni, people come from all over the country and world.I have been studying there for a while so I didn’t expect to be caught off guard somewhere I considered to be“safe”.

After explaining my situation, she asked me what languages I knew and I replied with English, Afrikaans and French. She commented that it was sad that those were the only ones I knew of all the 11 and that I should learn Vernacular.I got really nervous and uncomfortable when she asked me how I could be a citizen when I wasn’t “👇from here👇” like she was and neither were my parents.I explained
yet it seemed like she couldn’t grasp how she and I were on the “same level”.We had to separate for some group work so I got out of that situation.

I cried pretty hard, my dad always told me FOR YEARS that I WILL face discrimination one way or the other and that I need to be aware of it.A week before this situation,he gave me the immigration laws around the time I was born so I could “prove myself” should the situation arise and unfortunately that time came sooner than imagined.

After the crying and defensiveness, I had a sit-down and thought about what she said.All my life I’ve only needed English and since I started uni my Afrikaans has been handy once in a while.Maybe it is sad that someone can get by in SA with English/Afrikaans and that was what she meant.But on the other hand, does she hold everyone to the same standard?Or am I where she draws the line or…?

I know about the culture and history of South Africa.I
can see why my parents chose to raise our family here.In my opinion, South Africa has a hold on the arts that others just don’t and I love how every culture has a deep roots in how the country came to be.I just want to get my thoughts in order because learning it won’t change what other South Africans think of me and these languages deserve better than being learned out of shame or fear.

I’d really like to hear whatever you guys have to share.

EDIT: People always say this in edits but I did not expect this posts to get so many upvotes and comments so thank you guys😭All your advice, your experiences and opinions mean a lot to me and I thank you all for sharing.Thank you everyone for being constructive and respectful regardless of your opinions I genuinely appreciate it.I tend to over fixate on what other people think of me and I just needed some thoughts that weren’t mine from some level headed people😎

my fellow south africans, i feel that it is our duty to stop this from happening. please consider signing the petition, the deadline is 15 May 2026.

Save Robberg

Why when I go to pour milk from a freshly opened bottle that it either pours down the side of the milk bottle or just shoots the biggest glob of milk out all over my recently cleaned counters.😭
Edit:Excuse the first choice carton, it was the empty one I had grabbed that was closest to me after throwing a fit with the other one like a toddler.🫩

My fellow South Africans, I’d appreciate your attention to this important matter. If you could also inform your friends and family, it would greatly assist the cause. Here is the link to the article above: https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/celebrities/petition-to-stop-chris-browns-johannesburg-concert-gains-momentum-as-activists-demand-ban-20241003

As some of you are aware Chris Brown is said to be performing in Johannesburg on the 14th of December.

Chris has a history of domestic violence. Here is an article that reiterates this: https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/celebrities/chris-browns-dark-past-domestic-violence-documentary-explores-stars-controversies-and-scandals-20241003

Unfortunately, it's behind a paywall, and I can't access it. If anyone has access, please share a few snippets with the class (not the entire article). More importantly, I want everyone to know that since the Rihanna scandal, he has faced multiple assault and sexual assault allegations.

Women for Change, the group behind the petition, have been generous enough to provide a brief summary of his history on their page. If you're unable to access the article and need further persuasion on the importance of this petition:

'Chris Brown's History of Violence Against Women

Chris Brown has a well-documented history of violence towards several women. In 2009, he was convicted of brutally assaulting his then-girlfriend, Rihanna, a case that sparked global outrage. Despite his conviction, his troubling behaviour has continued, with multiple accusations of violence against other women, with 'Quiet on Set' Producers Announce the 'Chris Brown: A History of Violence'  Documentary, which will premiere this October.'

I urge that we sign the petition : https://www.change.org/p/stop-chris-brown-from-performing-in-south-africa-no-stage-for-abusers

If you're able to also pay R30 which will distribute this petition 150 times to potential supporters. [It not required tho]

So please share to as many people you can or else Tokoloshe is coming for u (jk)

Thanks guys 🤍

Probably too early to post this but I need to get it off my chest. So.. about 7 years ago I graduated high school and immediately went on to study for a Diploma in a field I won't mention. It was something so close to my heart, still very much is. But see, to get the actual Diploma I was supposed to have 18months of proven work experience in the industry atop my N6 certificate. So since I got my N6 five years ago- I never found an opportunity to allow me to get my 18months. And all the jobs and internships and gigs that popped up wanted someone with a completed Diploma. So for the past five years I've dabbled in between part time jobs that have nothing to do with my qualification to try survive in the meantime. But it's nothing but a steep hill to climb.

So... about a month ago I got sick and tired of it. So I used the graphic design skills I had gathered in my ventures to cook up a fake Diploma. Just how it would look after I get it. I made it look very convincing. So convincing that it landed me an internship at a very large corporation. Very, very large company. I was invited to an interview and killed it. Did competency assessments and walked through them effortlessly. Ticked all the right boxes.

So now... I'm supposed to start my internship on Monday and they've asked me to sign MIE documents for background checks last week Friday. They called me in today and I'm waiting in the lobby as I type this. I'm terrified that they know what I did. Or will find out eventually. I'm so scared, but somehow also so proud of myself cause I have gotten myself this far after years of no motion whatsoever. I don't know what's the worst outcome of what I did. Blacklisted. Jail time I'm assuming. I don't know. And what gives me even more anxiety is that all the other interns have received their employee numbers and it's only me who hasn't received it.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how cooked am I?

UPDATE: I'm at home in my room bleeding from the anxiety I'm getting from reading your comments. Nothing happened. They were taking me through all the company policies and whatnots. They have a designated Forensics Department that deals with fraud and corruption so my assumption is it's only a matter of time before I'm found with blood on my hands.

In the meantime I'll mention this.. they did say that I have to consider myself very luck since over 17000 people applied for that position. And I may sound arrogant and ignorant and full of myself.. but I absolutely believe in my deepest of hearts that I am the candidate for this position. I don't know how many other people were shortlisted for interviews and competency assessments.. but the fact that I came out on top says so much about the approach most companies apply to grading competency.

I'll keep you guys informed. But yes, I am aware that I could be absolutely cooked. And I could lose everything. But I have nothing. So...

UPDATE: (5days) I've completely settled. I've been assigned my own working space and catching up to the systems pretty well. I've learned most people's names and have had very interesting conversations with the people I found here. Everyone has been so nice to me. If they knew. I'm still looking over my shoulder every other second cause it's still pretty early into my quest. But somehow I can't shake off the feeling that I might get away w/ this. I might, I might not. But either way, what an experience it has been.

I'm dying for a boerewors roll and the Lidl down the street from me sells this but it's not always available.

Looks like it just contains beef fat. I'm sure the last time I bought it it looked much better. Would you buy this boerie?

I work in retail, the other day an American gentleman comes in asking for an item that we don't have (only available in the states and in Europe, assuming he wanted to get it cheaper here) then when I informed him that my company does not stock the item and pointed him towards what we do stock, he kept going on about what he wanted to find. After once again, informing him that we don't have the product and telling him what we do have, he aggressively grabbed my shoulder and said,' you don't know what you're talking about'. I'm so frustrated, it's like this with every single American client I have, I'm so sick of their dismissive and condescending attitude towards anyone in the retail/service industry (have worked as a waiter before and it's the same).

Just wanted to see if anyone else has had the same experience. That said I know that not all Americans are the same and that they bring value to the country by spending money here, but I'm just so sick of being treated this way by someone who doesn't understand even a sliver of my daily life.

Haven’t eaten these in ages and was completely shocked seeing the price today! Who is actually buying Pringles nowadays? This is madness!

62 days, seven women, seven bodies, seven rapes.

298 days ago, South Africans took to the streets. 298 days ago, GBV was declared a national crisis.

298 days ago, those who read the fine print quickly understood this would come back to bite us in the ass.

298 days ago, when the G20 summit rolled in, we changed our profiles to purple, we marched in the streets, we got loud, and we made billboards of our cry for help so the world would see.

298 days ago, our government declared GBV a national crisis.

298 days ago, this crisis was declared and many celebrated.

Some didn't. We read the fine print. GBV was declared a national crisis, but nothing facilitated the declaration. No funding, no task force, no real formal stance. Just a man stating Gender Based Violence is a National Crisis in South Africa.

We hoped, but I think many who read the fine print knew - this would come back to bite us in the ass. A declaration is nothing.

62 days, seven women, seven bodies, seven rapes.

These are only the women who made the news.

Women have been warned to "stay safe". We've been told to stick to groups.

We've been told to avoid secluded/isolated areas.

The first victim, July 15th - we don't know her name.

July 15th had a (reported) partner who was apprehended two days after her body was found. He's, allegedly, been in police custody since after being positively linked to her murder.

The call is coming from inside the house, and those in charge have done jackshit in 298 days, other than make a declaration.

62 days, seven women, seven bodies, seven rapes.

So, South Africa, how do we keep our women safe?

I was craving some Romany Creams since I haven't had them in a while, probably over a year or two. Bought a box from Checkers just to open it and find these pebbles! I know I'm not crazy because there was definitely a time where I couldn't casually fit a whole one in my mouth! And I would savour every bite of that rich, chocolatey goodness with that touch of coconut lingering in mouth for a good while. It was kind of addictive.

Now, I just pop them like Tic Tacs. It tastes so chalky and doughy and the aftertaste is horrible, like a mix of flour and that cheap waxy chocolate. After having a few, that aftertaste became too much and I chucked the rest of the box in the bin. I knew shrinkflation was bad, but this is just next level. And they are so freakin' expensive these days. I'm so sad and disappointed. I used to love Romany Creams so much.

This is going to be a bit of a rant, sorry. But we just got banned from another hotel and I'm absolutely fuming for the victim.

I work part time as a travel agent of sorts and I just made the link between passport bros and why my company is being banned from using certain service providers.

I'm the person that books activities for tourists to go watch animals sleeping under trees on game drives and take bicycle rides in Maboneng and ride the dunes in Cape Town and I've been doing this for a few years now so I have had the misfortune of working with a lot of international travellers.

I'm also the one that deals with the backlash from the companies that supply us with these activities because of said travellers.

A couple of times, I've seen posts on TikTok and Twitter about how beautiful our people are and I always thought they were compliments even though some of them were a bit crude but I didn't think there'd be a real life effect from them.

I now have a list of 13 (and counting) companies from resorts to spa's to tour guides and tasting rooms that I can no longer use because our travellers have harassed their staff and other patrons because the internet told them that women here are "accessible" and "packed" and "very easy" and it's wreaking havoc on my books and the women in those companies now having to deal with the harassment.

Allegedly, these travellers (specifically from the US and Europe, read: Holland) come here with the expectations of doing a few touristy things while mostly engaging in sex tourism and we are most definitely not the country for that because one thing our people will tell a foreigner is exactly where to get off (rightfully so, in this content).

It seems like these internet things, coupled with our unemployment rate, are giving more and more travellers the idea that desperation runs rife and the women (from all races) will just bend over after being flashed a few euros and swoon over the accents, which is seriously PMO but there's nothing I can actually do.

So guys, I'm begging you. If you come across an "appreciative" video that's along the lines of "why are SA women so packed?", please shut it down. We already have a human trafficking problem and I'm pretty sure such videos only put new targets on our backs. And now, those perceptions are affecting companies as well, which hurts tourism for the ones that genuinely just want to touch cheetahs and hike up Table Mountain.

The long term effects of these stereotypes are going to be a serious problem for us to deal with. Just look at how Jamaica is now well known for sex tourism. We really don't want to be perceived for such as well 🤧.

Hi there! I’m an elementary school teacher in the United States looking for some clarification.

I got a new student from South Africa this year who I believe was brought over because of Trump’s refugee program for white South Africans. The student has made some concerning racist comments to me a couple of times (interracial marriage is weird, Black people dress badly, etc.) I obviously told the student these comments are completely unacceptable. I know they are likely repeating things their parents have said, so I’m trying not to view them differently, but it’s not something I am used to hearing.

I know a bit about the history of South Africa and that they’re having issues with farm attacks, but I guess I’m just wanting some more context. Are these racist attitudes pretty normal among white people in South Africa today? Or is it a minority? Is there any good way to navigate this situation? Anyone else experienced this before? Would appreciate any insight.

Turned on eNCA and saw that Trump stopped USAID. I don't know how folks who rely on on the aforementioned for meds and treatment are going to manage especiallywith the cost of living. This is absolutely heartbreaking, moreso because it's such a minuscule percentage of US budget (from what I understand) AND is invaluable to the well being of South African citizens suffering from HIV and AIDS.

Should communities and business perhaps start a fund to help out?

What do you think this will do to our political standing? Especially with regard to BRICS.

Also, seriously; fuck Trump and DOGE.

Edit: It's not just South Africa's funding that was cut. 5800 projects around the world will also loose USAID funding.

Here's a link to an article courtesy of u/anib.

https://bhekisisa.org/health-news-south-africa/2025-02-27-breaking-trump-orders-usaid-funded-hiv-organisations-in-sa-to-shut-down/

It really does seem to be a weekly thing now to see something that’s been made worse to save the manufacturers a few bucks at our expense. My discoveries this week:
- Oreo McFlurry: used to have nice big chunks of Oreo and lots of crumbs all through the thing. Now it’s like fine powder just chucked on top 😞
- Soap dispenser foam: the switch to foam instead of liquid soap in these dispensers in a lot of the toilets in places like malls and hospitals was already bad. Like I need to pump 5 or 6 times and definitely only use water to rinse off. Well it’s getting worse now, we went to a place yesterday where the foam had absolutely zero soapiness or cleaning power. My hands were still oily after two rounds of scrubbing 😡

What product or service did you find this week that got made worse but kept its price (or went up)?

I had a gun pointed and fired at me today while driving near Summit Road. I was not speeding, I wasn't driving recklessly. I am always so cautious and terrified to piss off anyone on the road because I've heard all the bad stories.

But to have a gun pointed and fired at you for merely existing as a woman (27f) or as a person in this country is just awful. I'm shaken to my core. I don't want to leave my house.

I have to drive that same road every day, and now all I'm going to think about when I drive past that spot is what happened, where I could have died, what if it happens again.

I've always been worried about something like this happening to me. Now that it has, I'm terrified more than I already was.

Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to still be alive. But I'm angry beyond words at the state of this country.

UPDATE:

Firstly, thank you to those who left such kind words and good advice. I have bought myself a dash cam. I did go to the police as well. They said there is nothing they can do, which is expected due to a lack of evidence or information.

I decided to write an article about my experience and previous experiences, so if you would like to read the full story, here you go:

https://aylaundercover.substack.com/p/i-was-shot-at-this-is-what-its-like?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=97aspa

I am doing okay. Yesterday was the first day back on that same road. It was very difficult and stressful, but I survived.

I have an appointment booked with a trauma counselor.

Thank you again for all the support.

Ok, brazzas, I work in this field, so buckle up and listen.

Everyone hates direct marketing calls, I know. F those guys, I'm happy with my phone plan, thanks. So the opt out registry (OOR) is a good idea in theory, but the way it's being implemented is like a house being built by a toddler.

Here's the summary of what they're trying to do:

• give every consumer in SA the ability to choose who they want to / don't want to receive calls from
• get every direct marketer in SA to check that list every month, and not call consumers who've said "gtfo"

Now, that sounds like a really great plan. Seriously. I'd love to be able to control my calls that much. But when it comes to getting things done, our government … well, it kinda struggles a bit. Committees decide on things that are only so-so, and no one wants to admit that the emperor's clothes are a bit too sheer for day-wear, and we just end up with a bit of a mess and told to applaud.

Because here's what they're actually doing:

• making it easy to turn off marketing, and difficult to switch it back on again
• creating a huge, delicious bowl of everyone's data, and leaving it on the window-sill for thieves to grab

There are a huge number of issues with the OOR, and even more reasons why it should / shouldn't be a thing, but I don't have your attention for long enough to get through all of them.

So let's expand a bit on the two above:

• Turning marketing off and on:

The idea is that if I, as a consumer, sign up to the OOR, I can choose which businesses I want to receive calls from, and which businesses I don't. Now, there are a metric shit-ton of businesses that do direct marketing out there. It would take me forever to go through them all. Helpfully, the OOR splits those businesses into 15 or so industries, so I can easily say "screw you, telecoms industry" and get Vodacom and MTN and everyone else in that space to shut up about their latest offerings. But my guy, like most of the world, I'm really lazy, and I'm really annoyed by ALL marketing calls, so I don't want to click each industry individually. I'm just going to click "select all" and be done with it. Problem solved! Yay!

No. Not yay. Because now you've put a stop to EVERY business, which includes your Woolies newsletter and Butlers specials. And that new second-hand chaps shop you'll be excited to sign up with next month.

Because the OOR doesn't recognise future consent. If you choose to stop all telecoms businesses from marketing to you, and you sign up to a new one tomorrow, the OOR doesn't let your future consent override your past refusal. They don't even have a timestamp of when you said No to Woolies, so that you can quickly fix your mistake by re-applying to the Woolies newsletter the next time you're shopping online.

No, to undo your refusal, you have to go BACK into the OOR, and individually undo your refusal from each business that you now want to hear from.

And my brothers and sisters in Christiano Ronaldo, that shit's not happening. You and I barely have enough energy to read this far, let alone go clickety clacking around a government website more than once.

So, that's dumb.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

• How secure is the OOR:

In order to help you stop marketing calls, the OOR has to know your details - duh, they need to know your number so that they can tell others to stop calling it. And to keep that data safe from the dirty, stinking direct marketerses, they've asked the direct marketers to upload their databases to the OOR as well. That makes sense, really. If I could see the OOR's database directly, I could just steal all of your information and do whatever. So instead, the OOR wants to see MY database, and then tell me who on my database has said that they don't want to be there anymore. Brilliant system. Full proof. Fool proof. Whatever.

But did you know that not every government entity knows how to implement proper data security? OH MY GOD! WHAT!? THIS IS BRAND NEW INFORMATION!

Yes! We've seen many, MANY instances of government sites being hacked. The Information Regulator even fined the Department of Justice itself for being lax on cybersecurity.

So how do you think the OOR, as an arm of an overworked and underfunded entity, going to keep all that juicy, juicy personal information safe from thieves? (You know, the same thieves who are pretending to be direct marketers to scam you, thereby forming a not-insignificant part of the pressure to build the OOR in the first place, and yet whose existence the OOR completely forgot about)

Because, honey bunnies, the data that they're going to be getting isn't just the information you uploaded onto the OOR. It's not your personal gmail address and phone number. It's EVERY email address and phone number that any direct marketer has ever collected about you. Because that's the only way the direct marketer can be sure that you haven't refused marketing to those details.

So the biggest marketing companies in the country - who are attacked on the regular by some of the most sophisticated cybercriminals in the world, in an attempt to get at all your nutrient-rich details - are being forced to hand that over to the public entity equivalent of those two soldiers guarding the ship in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

So, that's even more dumb.

Anyway. That's enough story-time for now. The OOR is here, and it's law, and it's dumb, and we're gonna have to deal with it.

We're still going to get spam calls, though.

Braai Talk🔥