Every nation seems to have political habits and processes which are mystifying to others. For example, our speciality is recycling. No matter how terrible the alleged offence might be that causes a political office-bearer to resign or even, very rarely, to get fired, it’s not long before they pop up in a post which carries even more responsibility and salary than the one they were holding. And why, in the mother of parliaments in London don’t they give their MPs desks? Are they worried they might write stuff down? But the most complicated of all is the American electoral system that drags on for months and miles and manages only rarely to produce candidates who appear worth voting for. Part of the process is the Party Convention where coachloads of delegates pitch up in some fun venue to witness a result that appears to have been settled much earlier. Because of Covid-19 the Democratic Party are holding a largely virtual convention and that seems to have lured a particularly weird group of crazies into the light. Airtime was granted to someone whose brief CV identified themself as a Black Vietnamese who answers to the name of My Lai. This of course is also the name of a place made infamous during the Viet Nam war by US army atrocities, but what point this makes, is unclear. My Lai, the delegate, devotes considerable space to categorizing her tedious and uninteresting gender preferences. Only the phrase “mermaid queenking currently living out ever-evolving truths” as a post grad student at one of America’s older leafy campuses adds some joy to the depressing picture of someone whose speech to the convention was a plea to do away with law enforcement and prisons.
It was not surprising to learn that our national Vice-President was citing poor health as the reason why he could not pitch up at a commission to explain where the money had gone. What was odd however is that he claims to have a medical team in attendance to write his sick notes. How many and how far down the pecking order does the need for a medical team instead of a trip to the GP, extend? Do every one of the 70-odd cabinet ministers have a team of medics travelling in the car behind should their hangover be particularly troublesome or the ingrowing toenail require a trim? A related puzzlement was the news of how much it costs to hold a state funeral, when, despite the medics on hand, the luminary passes on. Anything below about R50m seems to be considered almost a pauper’s funeral. Muttering and allegations of corruption are rife. (Surely not!) The Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure has the responsibility of arranging these events. This ministry is headed by the respected Minister Patricia de Lille who has agreed that the funerals for the nation’s heroes and legends should not be “tainted with allegations of corruption”. Good luck with that “Aunty Pat”.
Something awful and depressing is happening closer to home in the lengthy and labyrinthine corridors of SA Cricketing power. Not only have several decades of political interference put down deep and alien roots, but administrators appear to be firmly ensconced over the cash flows from sponsors to players. Tidemark’s long held view that all sports are founded on entirely personal ambitions, drive and talent in which governments should play no part whatsoever, remains steadfast. There is no evidence, especially in grave economic circumstances like the present, that most voters want to see public money spent on supporting an individual’s efforts. This is harsh, especially for talented youngsters seeking a way to monetise their skills in whatever discipline, whether arts or sport. The only way for government to channel money to such causes should be by way of tax breaks for private donors, sponsors, fans and supporters. Our guess is that it won’t be long before a frantic tax collector would close down that loophole proving that ideological meddling was the true reason for running a costly Sports Ministry. Currently they appear to be spending our money determining if South Africans playing rugby overseas are kneeling in suitable respect for departed American petty criminals.
James Greener
Friday 21st August 2020
