Bo Blink onder Stink
It is very difficult to do public relations when the reality that requires it is so desperately indefensible. The FNB campaign sent President Jacob Zuma and his minions into an absolute tizzz. The truth hurts, especially from the dizzy heights of Davos.
It hurts more when uttered from the mouths of babes and black babes, at that, who articulate very clearly what is wrong with this place called the new SA. As "born frees", they cannot so easily be dismissed as apartheid kids! But, sadly, like us who grew up under apartheid, they can talk eloquently about what they see and experience.
These children know about books that are not delivered on time or not at all; these children know about schools that have no windows and about crime and poverty and about walking miles to schools while our politicians abuse state funds to buy imported cars; refurbish their homes; beef up their security; and travel abroad at our expense. So blinded by their own self-importance, these politicians underestimate the ability of our children to think independently.
A recent US television programme called "Boomtown" reveals the evolution of Washington politicians into the new aristocracy through lobbying, earmarks and crony capitalism, summed up aptly by Sean Hannity: "the business of politics in Washington has become the business of families." A sizeable proportion of the stimulus bill in the USA has gone to cronies and to reward those who supported Obama in his election campaigns.
Just so, Helen Zille's exposé of the ANC's information scandal is timely. Its subterranean conduit of funds to the Gupta family via the New Age is scandalous. The usual suspects - Eskom, SAA, Transnet and Denel - unashamedly bow to political pressure to enrich this carpetbagger family who has become a lifeline to the President's family.
Eskom's numerous threats to the public to fork out 16% extra in electricity tariffs to support its infrastructural development programme is hogwash when as a public enterprise it knows it is playing a key role in keeping this rag alive for the next election.
When the New Age started most of the editors predicted its demise just as This Day became "That Night" within a matter of months. The former's extraordinary longevity is due to government patronage to a family that came from nowhere in India to settle here. Free copies of this benighted paper lie around every airport and the high turnover of its editors and staff is matched equally by its low rates of sale.
The Mail & Guardian (25-31 January) estimates that roughly 68% of its adverts come from the government as opposed to the private sector, which accounts for 17%. It should be the other way around. Zille's exposé reveals, yet again, the extent to which Zuma will go to turn his utterance - that his supporters would be rewarded - into reality. Worse, this is done brazenly. Look at Vivian Reddy, stinking rich from the public purse.
State enterprises have no option but to comply because their lifeblood is due to government's annual acts of resuscitation. And as for FNB, they had better retreat or the retribution will follow them all the days of their life.
Domestically, the ANC cares not a jot what those children think. It will continue to loot and vote for itself all kinds of entitlements because the struggle owes them. It cares only when our complaints go international. Image matters but as my ouma used to say: "bo blink onder stink!"
This article first appeared in Die Burger.
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