THREE times now Jacob Zuma has denied the oath of his office by declaring his loyalties lay first and foremost with the African Nationalist Congress and not the constitution he had twice sworn to honour and uphold – and you could be forgiven for believing that the grating sound you heard on Thursday was the crowing of a cock.
But no, it was just the ruling party’s president chortling and giggling his way through his last parliamentary question-and-answer session for the year.
It was a contemptible display. There is very little that is funny or amusing about the present state of the South African economy. This week’s interest rate hike is going to impact heavily on cash-strapped ordinary folk, even those who are rank and file ANC members. Little cheer for them, then, this Christmas.
But the ANC president regards it all a joke. “Where does my laughter hurt you?” Zuma goaded opposition MPs. It was such an outrageous moment that many were too stunned to respond with the obvious: “In the ears, for a start. . .”
There was the inevitable suggestion from a toadying ANC backbencher that laughter was a sign of “good health”.
On cue, Zuma ratcheted up the ill-mannered behaviour very much like an over-indulged child. “Thank you very much if I can laugh, because I will always laugh,” he said. “It’s not hurting, it’s healthy.”