IF EVERYBODY WHO DIES WAS A SAINT, WHO ARE THE SINNERS?

July 2022 - ISSUE 42

IF EVERYBODY WHO DIED WAS A GOOD GUY, WHO WAS THE BAD GUY?

Last week ANC Deputy Secretary General, Jesse Duarte, died. The airwaves and news services have been flooded with stories of what a wonderful "freedom fighter" she was and how much she will be missed.

Are we living in a parallel universe?

This was a woman who, for more than a quarter of a century, has been mired in controversy, accused of corruption and attempted to silence the media with the Media Appeals Tribunal when it reported on corruption. Jesse Duarte was a staunch supporter of Jacob Zuma and the Guptas to the point of calling anyone who dared question their rampant corruption a racist! Back in the day, when the ANC still tried to govern properly, Jesse Duarte was fired as MEC of Safety and Security in Gauteng when she covered up a car accident while driving without a license. Around the same time, it was discovered that she had enjoyed a romantic holiday to Portugal holiday using public money.

In her last stint as Deputy Secretary General of the ANC, she didn't pay her staff members, although there were no reports of her salary not reaching her bank account. She also failed to pay over staff taxes and pension money. Do that in the private sector and it is called theft and SARS will arrive at your door in a matter of minutes. In most countries, she may have died in jail, but South Africa isn't like most countries.

Suddenly, Jesse Duarte, was a wonderful patriot and flags must fly at half-mast!

This reminded me of the outpouring of grief shown when the Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu died of Covid 19 in 2021. This was a guy who was the spokesman for Jacob Zuma and shouted down any query of corruption. He was the person responsible for killing all of those votes of no confidence as the opposition tried to stop the hemorrhaging caused by State Capture. Finally, he was arrested for drunk driving and even did a radio interview from prison. He wasn't fired for any of this, he was promoted.

Every obituary for Jackson Mthembu was almost verbatim the same as in the case of Jessie Duarte. It was the same story; he gave his life to the people of South Africa, and was honest but misrepresented. The President told the country that South Africa wishes every politician could be like him. The story seems to be the same with every ANC politician that dies.

I understand that many people do not believe that one should speak ill of the dead. I respect this quaint notion even if I don't understand it. Surely if a person was a liar or a thief while they were alive, we don't have to speak nicely about them when they die? Surely we won't have to say nice things about Jacob Zuma or Bathabile Dlamini when they depart to the great ANC branch in the sky, or down below?

We all know that Jesse Duarte was a nasty piece of work who threatened people, facilitated corruption and broke the law of the land, yet she rose through the ANC ranks. The same goes for so many of the ANC members who die; yet, you wouldn't know these things if you read their obituaries.

Something doesn't quite add up; if everybody who dies is one of the good guys, who are the bad guys?

Who stops these good guys every time they try to stop the bad guys from doing bad things?

If the ANC is so full of good guys, why can't they do a better job?

Do the bad guys never die?

By Mike Sham

State of the Nation, the country's premier political and economic analysis, featuring prominent South African voices. These seminars will ensure you're up to date on the current political, economic and business landscape, and arm you with the tools you need for effective scenario planning and strategic development. You'll leave this seminar with the knowledge and insight you need to grow your business successfully.

To view previous newsletters: Click here

To view previous State of the Nation Webinars: Click here