It is impossible to glance at the headlines, let alone open a newspaper or turn on the radio or TV news these days without meeting some fresh story, editorial, article, cartoon and any number of readers and listeners complaining about the ANC and some party official or other.
People the world over blame the government for their troubles, don't we know it. But you would have thought by now this is really too much. Even amiable President Zuma managed to look concerned over the weekend and said something to the effect that it is all getting a bit out of hand.
In case you thought this must make the party get a grip at last (and credit where it's due: it did manage to expel the headlong Mr Malema in the end: at least for the time being), the view seems already that this week's ANC policy conference won't fix a thing. How can it? Growing, general discontent rarely makes any clear connection back to specific policies and even when it has in the past, it soon forgets and forgives. If you want a trip down memory lane, recall the uproar about 'quiet diplomacy'? Remember how cross we said we all were with government policy on Aids? Is that weighed in the balance now?
No, understandably, the public are more aroused by the things that touch them the closest: by cronyism, by the incompetence and maladministration of government. Some intellectuals may go on about the separation of the powers, threats to the independence of the judiciary and other arcane matters, but it's the shambles in Limpopo education, lawlessness amid the blue-light brigades, the Mercs and the jollies at home and abroad that really get at people where they live.
It is worrying because many seem genuinely lost for an explanation of why 'democracy' should have brought all this down on our heads. Wasn't it supposed to usher in a better life for all? Some even issue dire warnings that SA is inevitably going the way of the rest of Africa - whatever it is they mean by saying that. Or that we've followed in the footsteps of President Robert Mugabe next door and all is already lost.
What disturbingly few do is draw the obvious conclusion: cast your vote for a different party next time.