On some days, you look back at the previous few days with absolute delight, enjoyment and fulfilment, just wanting the days to linger for a wee longer. Unfortunately, this never happens. I wrote this column on August 28, the eve of what promised to be a tumultuous week in South African society, during which, some predicted, we would see yet another Finance Minister assuming office.

But I want to linger in my days past a bit longer. Slightly more than 72 hours before I sat down to write this column, I was reminded why the 1980s produced musicians whose music has survived to this day and is still receiving airplay. During those years, it was all about the music, not the musician. Today’s musicians – they apparently take exception to this term, preferring to be called artistes – are ‘products’, as their brand of music cannot stand alone; it has to be packaged. Recently, I was shocked to hear that today’s artistes use as many as nine producers on a single song. And their natural voice is devoid of all the enhancements – no wonder the lip sync. But I digress.

On a small stage in Gibraltar, a British overseas territory, on the Iberian (Spanish) Peninsula – the south-west corner of mainland Europe – a sole musician, Katrina Elizabeth Leskanich, is vowing the crowd. Ever heard of her? Well, you should. You might be more familiar with her band, Katrina and the Waves (KATW), and she is, of course, singing their megahit, Walking on Sunshine, released on April 26, 1985. Yes, it has been that long. This is a song that, according to estimates, still earns around $1-million a year and was one of EMI’s biggest earners from advertisers, before the song (together with some un-notable others by the KATW) was acquired by BMG Rights Management in August 2015 for £10-million. I wonder which of today’s songs will have such longevity.

Fast-forward 48 hours and I find myself standing next to El faro de Cabo Trafalgar – the lighthouse at Cape Trafalgar – a headland in the province of Cádiz, in the south-west of Spain. The name Trafalgar is of Arabic origin – Taraf al-Ghar – which means ‘edge’ or ‘extremity’, the edge of the land. Although the name might be familiar to you, I would guess the place is not as familiar. A name that might be more familiar to you is, no doubt, Trafalgar Square, the public square in Westminster, in central London, where you find South Africa House, which was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and was completed in 1933. This was South Africa’s main diplomatic presence in the UK during World War II and the place where then Prime Minister Jan Smuts lived while mapping out South Africa’s war plans. An interesting fact is that, until 1961, it served as a high commission, later becoming an embassy and then, on May 31, 1994, reverting to being a high commission. Any guesses why? This was because, on May 31, 1961, South Africa became a republic and withdrew from the Commonwealth, which means its diplomatic mission became an embassy. On rejoining the Commonwealth about 22 years ago, it became a high commission once again.

Nothing, arguably, makes South Africans feel more at home, or long to be back home more, than arriving at Trafalgar Square and seeing the South African flag waving. The square’s name serves to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory, during the Napoleonic Wars with France and Spain. The battle took place on October 21, 1805, off the coast of Cape Trafalgar, in Spain. Twenty-seven British ships led by Admiral Lord Nelson aboard HMS Victory defeated 33 French and Spanish ships under the control of French Admiral Villeneuve. The Franco-Spanish fleet lost 22 ships, without a single British vessel being lost, in what has been described as the most decisive naval battle of the war, conclusively ending French plans to invade England. Britannia ruled the waves.

During the battle, Nelson was shot by a French musketeer and subsequently died. His body was preserved in a barrel of brandy (true story) for the trip home to a hero’s funeral. Before returning to England, HMS Victory deviated to Gibraltar for emergency repairs and to treat those wounded in the bloody battle. Many of the injured crew were brought ashore at Gibraltar and treated at the Naval Hospital, and those who subsequently died from their injuries are buried in or near the Trafalgar cemetery in Gibraltar.

Even though the British were significantly outnumbered, Nelson’s plan was simply to go straight at the Franco-Spanish fleet during the battle, a plan that held three advantages. Firstly, it reduced the chance that the Franco-Spanish fleet would be able to escape without fighting. Secondly, it would quickly result in a mêlée and a frantic battle by breaking the Franco-Spanish line. Thirdly, it would lead to a decisive concentration on the rear of the Franco-Spanish fleet.

This battle and its winning strategy made me think of South Africa’s own economic battle against unemployment, particularly youth unemployment. A story published by Fin24 on August 25 quoted Deputy Minister in the Presidency Buti Manamela as saying that young people should be encouraged to pursue entrepreneurship and self-employment as the central solution to youth unemployment. According to Manamela, South Africa is “facing its biggest youth unemployment in its recent history”. The plan, it seems, is for entrepreneurs to receive financial and nonfinancial support and for government policy to be amended to support procurement processes, with policies supportive of youth and black economic empowerment. In addition, a whole range of government-led programmes should be set up and red tape eliminated. Then, university education should match the skills demands of the labour market, with students being better prepared for the work environment through internships and in-service training. These are only the more pertinent of the suggested policies.

Let us be honest, there is nothing really new in what is being said about addressing the youth unemployment problem, and this is where the problem lies. There has, and continues to be, much talk about the problem, but seemingly no decisive action. This talk also ignores the role models that have succeeded in achieving that which is being aspired to. Where are these role models? Those that have not come from privileged backgrounds or have connections but have succeeded in what is being aspired to. Surely, they can offer much. The difference between Nelson’s decisive victory and the impending ‘battle’ against youth unemployment is that he ‘actioned’ his plan, while the latter remains only a plan, lacking any decisive action. (As my grandfather used to remind us, “procrastinators unite tomorrow”.)

Jumping ahead another 24 hours, I find myself at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of four rivers – the Beiro, the Darro, the Genil and the Monachil – just outside the walls of the Alhambra, a Moorish citadel and palace, in Granada, Spain. It is a city founded in the middle of IV BC. “Rivers deep mountain high”, you might say. Well, not quite so, but it is the thought that counts.

It seems that, whenever I visit Granada, I should not head for the hills – the mountain – for each visit has proven most unfortunate from a Springbok rugby perspective. On my last visit on September 19, 2015, Japan shocked South Africa by beating it 34 - 32 in the World Cup Pool B match. Only a few hours before Argentina shocked South Africa in the Rugby Championship by beating it 26 -24. Let me assure Springbok rugby that I intend not to return to Granada any time soon, and should I have to, any future visit would be planned outside the rugby season.