Otto's Environment
2026-07-22
Why I Am Writing This Series
Today I am writing what may well become the hardest article of my short career as a journalist, writer, digital tutor, and independent publisher.
For several years I have written about technology, Linux, artificial intelligence, my Christian faith, everyday life, and the many adventures—both good and bad—that have crossed my path. Yet I have gradually realised that many of my readers, particularly those outside South Africa, are missing an important piece of the puzzle.
Many of the choices I make only make sense when viewed in the context of the environment in which I live.
This series is my attempt to provide that context.
Before I continue, however, I want to make something absolutely clear.
This is not a political manifesto.
It is not an attempt to persuade anyone to adopt my views.
Nor is it intended as a complaint or a request for sympathy.
Rather, it is an honest account of my own experiences and the circumstances that have shaped my life. Others may have experienced South Africa very differently, and I fully acknowledge that.
A Lifetime Among Many People
One of the greatest privileges of my life has been meeting and working alongside people from many different backgrounds, cultures, languages, and communities.
Some have become close friends, others trusted colleagues, employers, clients, or fellow believers. These relationships have enriched my life in countless ways and continue to do so today.
The observations I will share throughout this series are therefore not directed against any race, culture, or community. They are simply my experiences of living through changing times in the country of my birth.
Why Stay?
One question I am often asked is:
“If things are so difficult, why don’t you simply leave?”
The answer is both simple and complicated.
Financially, emigrating is simply beyond my means.
More importantly, South Africa is my home. My family history, my memories, my work, my friendships, and my faith are deeply rooted here. I believe God has given each of us places where we are called to serve, and for me, that place has always been South Africa.
That does not mean I ignore the country’s problems.
It means I choose to remain hopeful despite them.
Why This Matters
When readers encounter my articles about earning a modest income, repairing aging computers, maintaining old vehicles, or building projects like Plebware one step at a time, they sometimes wonder why I continue.
The answer is simple.
Giving up has never been part of who I am.
Every article I write, every lesson I publish, every script I develop, and every person I help is another small investment in a future that I still believe can be better than today.
This series is intended to explain the journey that brought me here.
Only by understanding the road behind us can we truly understand the destination ahead.
This Series
Future articles will explore topics including:
- My early years and the lessons they taught me.
- Building Otronix Developments and chasing an entrepreneurial dream.
- Successes, failures, and lessons learned in business.
- Living and working in South Africa through changing times.
- Retirement that wasn’t really retirement.
- Why I still work after reaching pension age.
- Financial realities faced by many ordinary South Africans.
- Faith during seasons of disappointment.
- Why I continue writing despite the obstacles.
- Building Plebware and creating something that will outlive me.
- What I hope future generations will learn from my journey.
This series is not about assigning blame.
It is about recording one ordinary South African’s life as truthfully as I know how.
If my experiences encourage someone else to persevere through difficult times, then sharing them will have been worthwhile.