More riots in South Africa. This time Grabouw and Heidelberg. Around the corner from my hometown of Knysna, Kranshoek erupts only to be followed by the roaring monster that Plettenberg Bay has become. How many times must businesses be burnt down or the N2 closed before politicians start listening to the masses who are frustrated by their election lies?
Each time ugly violence or idiotic rhetoric raises it’s arse on the Garden Route i’m tempted to repeat that the biggest problems in our country should not result in an ANC versus DA, or vice versa, blame game. Politicians need to stop pointing fingers at the opposition and instead use both hands to help the people they were elected to serve. Unfortunately, their level of education seems to only enable them to count up to that one finger which serves not only as misdirection (and a refusal to accept responsibility) but a telling “fuck you” to the public.
If politicians don’t start doing their jobs and the media keeps misreporting then South Africa will go up in flames. That’s no exaggeration. It’s too common in history for the more comfortable public to be deniers, or turn their backs, until lies are vanquished by violence on their doorstep.
This morning, in the Daily Maverick, i read an article by Paul Berkowitz wherein he reminded me of Douglas Adams’ poignant definition of democracy in his comedy book, So Long and Thanks For All The Fish:
“On its world, the people are people. The leaders are lizards. The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people.”
“Odd,” said Arthur, “I thought you said it was a democracy.”
“I did,” said Ford. “It is.”
“So,” said Arthur, hoping he wasn’t sounding ridiculously obtuse, “why don’t the people get rid of the lizards?”
“It honestly doesn’t occur to them,” said Ford. “They’ve all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they’ve voted in more or less approximates to the government they want.”
“You mean they actually vote for the lizards?”
“Oh yes,” said Ford with a shrug, “of course.”
“But,” said Arthur, going for the big one again, “why?”
“Because if they didn’t vote for a lizard,” said Ford, “the wrong lizard might get in. Got any gin?”
[If you're wondering where the book title comes from, it's the message the dolphins leave behind after departing Earth - it's become a way of poignantly saying goodbye, particularly useful if you've used up everything you were offered without giving back much. Yes, that does sound like our local politicians, somehow elected without CVs and answerable to Cape Town and Polokwane (instead of us), so that they keep their jobs (and big salaries) even if they don't do it]
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Hey, nice article. Just wanted to say why the hell do people demonstrate against a government that they just vote in again? Seems odd. Back to the trees then…
Exactly which is why i added in the quote at the bottom. Too much stereotypical voting in South Africa i.e. black is ANC, white is DA (no matter what they say, that is still the majority of supporters). People need to vote for who will do the job and make them sign a pledge that they can be recalled if they don’t. If the public doesn’t insist on it then local governments will continue to have their major decisions made by province, remaining pawns in a power struggle that doesn’t care about their town.