Beating around the Bosch

with

Dear Reader,

A few weeks ago in our sports journalism class, Pieter de Villiers came to speak to us. Although he claims to detest the label, most people know him as the Springbok team’s first black coach. There are a few controversial stories floating around about him, and having listened to him speak for two hours, I could tell that he tended to talk himself into precarious corners. Despite all this, there was one comment he made that left me dumbstruck. Alluding to the times of the Sharpeville massacre, De Villiers said he was one amongst the crowds who took to the streets and set fire to trucks in the name of freedom and democracy. Nonetheless, he declared through a proud smile that he does not vote. He fought for his children’s’ right to vote, not his own, he said.

Now, while I understand that there is reason for cynicism, this line of reasoning just made no sense to me. Excuse me while I unashamedly insert opinion into this piece of writing, but not voting in a democracy makes no sense to me. It’s like wearing white to a funeral - trying to make some kind of statement but making yourself incredibly unpopular in the process.

I’m speaking to my fellow Zoomers here too (don’t think I haven’t heard you say you’re taking the day off on 29 May). The equal rights that come with a democratic system are paired with responsibility. Our right to vote is a tool to keep our leaders accountable. It may be the most powerful tool we have as citizens, along with cardboard, permanent markers, and spray paint. And Fisherman’s friends.

So, to those of you who think voting is a futile exercise, it isn’t. If the predictions about the upcoming elections aren’t enough to make you see that the political landscape is changing, let this sense of competition spur you into action:

People, we are losing to Gauteng. Please.

Prostrate (PROSS-trayt)

To lie face down on the ground due to being weary, overthrown, or helpless, or as an act of humility

“I felt the need to prostrate myself at the bar when I heard people my age say they aren’t going to vote”

South Africa: the drama

🚨The National Assembly speaker, the cop and the air fryer

Please take the following contents the South African way and have a chuckle, because otherwise you are going to be spending Easter Sunday looking for the common sense in this country rather than Lindt bunnies.

Let’s start with our National Assembly speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who stands accused of multiple counts of corruption, including the solicitation of bribes (one of 5 million while she was minister of military defense), spending over R7 million of the taxpayer’s money on luxury hotels and parties. One such incident was a solo stay at a luxury hotel in New York’s Central Park, which, for a 5-day stay, cost almost R400 000. All in the name of being a better National Assembly speaker, of course. Despite this long-established string of corruption, Mapisa-Nqakula has remained in parliament.

Now, let’s look at Brigadier Dumisani Chile, a crucial cog in uncovering a R45 million procurement splurge that was intended to bankroll votes at the ANC’s 2017 elective conference. As an employee at South Africa’s Crime Intelligence unit, he did his job well as a whistleblower and watchdog. His last report was about Dumisani Khumalo, the current head of Crime Intelligence, who received security clearance for his position in just a few days (rather than the months it normally takes). Brigadier Chile filed this report with the inspector general. He now stands accused, and has been suspended for, allegedly shoplifting an air fryer from Checkers (valued at R800). He claims innocence, but honestly, does it matter? Our National Assembly speaker, who has wasted millions of taxpayers’ money, continues to sit in parliament, so surely by this logic Brigadier Chile should in fact be promoted as a reward for his alleged crimes?

🗣What’s your take?

How do you feel about the upcoming elections? What’s your take on the consequences for shoplifting air fryers? Anything in particular you’re hunting for this Easter?

(I reply to every email, so you will not be screaming into the void, I promise)

Visual of the Week

📸Some BTS from Marthinus:

I had gone to take some photos of these new generators before, but there was nobody there, and the whole place was fenced off. I had to stand on logs, on my tiptoes, and blind-fire my camera over my head to even get a shot. Then, one day as I was going back to take some better photos, it turned out that they were running a sound test that very afternoon. People were wrestling with open terminals, smoke was billowing out, and I ended up having my pick of the lot. Right place, right time; like all photos, I suppose.

Read the story here

📚Good reads from SMF News this week📚

• Cleaners and landscapers at SU consider a strike due to dissatisfaction with organisational rights

  SMF News’ Duné van Jaarsveld attended a meeting between workers and union officials who expressed their dissatisfaction with their employer, Servest.

• A teen who went missing for 3 days was found safe

  Eugene Marais spoke to a relieved mother from Kayamandi after her daughter returned home.

• Disciplinary hearing called against SU’s EFFSC president

  Iva Fulepu spoke to Stellenbosch University’s student leader of the EFFSC and the university’s spokesperson after an alleged assault at a parliament meeting.

🎶What we’re listening to:

Hop over to our website to see our full range of articles :)

Until next week

Nicola Amon, newsletter editor