Monday 21 March 2016

How unmitigated arrogance can be self-defeating

Much has been written and discussed about the latest Guptagate revelations. While browsing through the weekend newspapers, the Guptagate saga took precedence over any other local or international story that was worthy of being published. Claims of attempted “State Capture” by the Gupta-Zuma alliance, affectionately named “Zupta” by the enfant terrible, has raised considerable interest across various sectors of South African Society. The fear of South Africa turning into a kleptocracy, and in the process our economy being trashed with a downgrade to “Junk Status” by global rating agencies, was a very real threat for every South African struggling to make ends meet in our already dodgy economic climate.

The impact of political uncertainty has already affected interest rates, costs of energy, food, and basic daily living standards. The lack of effective leadership culminating in factional fighting within the ANC and the Tripartite Alliance, has caused reverberations internationally and has discouraged any possible foreign investment this country so desperately needs. A review by Moody’s rating agency with an expected downgrade will seal our economic fate and render our investment potential as toxic by international investors.  The repercussions of this will be felt for the next 5 to 10 years, with very little potential for real economic growth. Can we seriously afford to have a government with a ruling party whose leaders are embarrassingly incompetent, corrupt and utterly out of tune with the expectations of the electorate. Do they have any inclination of what they have wrought on the populace in their last 5 years of national rule?

The general consensus for our continuous path of downward spiral is the cause of one man and one man only, this being our esteemed Commander-in-Thief himself. The corrupt relationship he enjoys with dodgy businessmen and their attempt of absolute state capture through this relationship is blatant for the world to see. Although the call for his impeachment and recall, from all South Africans is overwhelming, the ANC leadership seems somewhat unperturbed. While there are some dissenting voices within the party and the Tripartite Alliance, this has proven not to be enough for the NEC to act on the public’s outcry for a recall of Mshiniwam. That said, Mshiniwam will emerge much stronger than before. Considering his arrogance, this will undoubtedly give him the impression that he is untouchable, with all-encompassing powers over state, party and parliament. But, history has proven to unmask the self-proclaimed untouchables, and it would be just a matter of time before the Nkandla Crooner makes that one fatal mistake that would eventually bring the curtain down on his illustrious criminal career, and as the leading Corruptor-in-Thief. I think we as the public should be patient and allow the corrupted one to slowly tighten the noose around his neck and eventually hang himself through his own arrogance and self-indulgence. We wait with bated breath.....