Today was another blow for politics and democracy in our country. And it’s a particularly devastating one. Our president elect, “man of the people” and general big man about town just openly mocked anyone who has ever countered him on his blatant corruption in the Nkandla saga.
Not only did he mock us/them, he then also went on to get his team of “experts” to sell us the biggest piece of PR bulls*@t we’ve had the privilege to bear witness to in a while. Sure, they’re not really saying anything new, but to hear how they’ve perfected and convinced themselves of some pretty shaky “truths” about security upgrades is just frightening. When the magician starts believing his own magic, it’s time to start worrying.
But perhaps what is most fascinating about all of this is how we, his very devoted audience (and devoted we are, whether in love or in hate) are basically playing into every single role he wants us to play into.
Let me unpack that a bit. Zuma and the ANC have built a following based on divisiveness. They cry “Apartheid” and racism whenever anything hits too close to home. And the white people write him off as an idiot. What they don’t realise is he’s speaking a truth which is very close to home for the majority of our country. A majority who, after two decades of “freedom” are no better off than they were pre-democracy.
So whilst the white folk can (and do) point fingers at the government, the black folk are saying, “Hang on. There’s something to this.” Because the reality is, when the black folk walk past the big houses in the suburbs and see them (mostly) populated by white people, Apartheid doesn’t feel all that far away.
And so the government cries “Racism!”; the white people cry, “Incompetent idiots!” and; the non-white people trapped in poverty keep voting for the ANC because they’re hinting at holding someone (the white people in this case) to account for their misery.
But here’s the catch: just about EVERYONE in this scenario is acting out the dream scene for Zuma and his team to carry on doing exactly what they’ve been doing all along: to continue being corrupt & carry on milking us for all we’re worth. Because, we’re so busy pointing fingers at them and at each other that nobody is paying too much attention to the underlying issues that are causing this whole mess in the first place!
Again, I don’t claim to have the answers. I wish I did, because then I’d throw myself heart and soul into implementing them. But I do know this: the rhetoric of blame and segregationist views we continue to perpetuate is fueling the fire, not setting the framework for a “new South Africa”.
Not in My Name South Africa is a platform to seek a new way, together. If you are a citizen that wants to do more and have a voice or a skill to offer, inbox us on Facebook and let’s get to work. Until we do something DIFFERENT, the story is not going to change. And flip! It’s about time the story changed. Let’s do it. If not for ourselves, then for our children.
Not in my Name 