South Africa 2014 elections cartoon

Who will you vote for in the 2014 South African elections?

Vote for the Future! Vote EFF!

The state of South African politics is rather pathetic. The players include a scandal-ridden president who is mocked, both locally and abroad, and his self-interested party, which seems intent to pillage the country to the benefit of its friends and family. At the other nasty extreme, lie the so-called opposition parties who appear more adept at Twitter and mindless rhetoric than at showing any sort of strategy or political savvy.

So where does this leave South Africans, come the 2014 elections? On the 7th May 2014, voters will once again be left with some obvious, and rather sad choices:

1. The Incumbetent ANC

President Jacob Zuma photo

Jacob Zuma expresses himself

This choice is a no-brainer for all those currently benefiting from juicy state tenders and their families. Die-hard optimists that have probably not been weaned off acid since the 70s might also be inclined to give them another chance – after all, it’s only been twenty years and we’ve only lost 1.5 generations due to a destroyed education system and incompetent leadership, so far.

This will also likely be the choice of part the masses who still naively believe the ANC’s election promises about service delivery, education, healthcare, and all that other stuff that has apparently been soiled by apartheid for centuries, if not millennia, to come. Failing that, free food handouts, the odd bonus t-shirt and prancing around singing struggle songs about the bad ol’ days seems to have done the trick in previous years.

ps: if you like our new word incumbetent, please send a note of thanks to Wonkie’s think tank for its creation.

2. The White DA

Helen Zille photo

The DA, in essence

A party still firmly entrenched in the struggle. The struggle to brand itself as anything other than a party for white people, that is. Although, in true BEE fashion, they did try appointing a token black leader. No, Wonkie is not referring to Mamphela Ramphele. One need only look at their policies to realize why most black people in their right minds will not consider them a viable alternative.

While the ANC is happy to blame everything, including their own incompetence, on apartheid, the DA seems to have positioned themselves as wanting a merit-based South Africa, pretty much discounting all the effects of apartheid as though it never happened. And, they believe this is an equitable way forward.

3. The Lost Agang

Agang Strategy photo

Agang Strategy Masterclass

Where to even begin with this testament to vision-less, haphazard, idiotic example of leadership. Sorry Mamphela, but riding on the badge of being an apartheid struggle veteran only seems to work if you’re an ANC member. Even Cope, with all its issues in the last election, did more to promote itself. All that South Africa knows about Agang is that it is apparently against corruption (minus the small question marks against how its leader acquired her wealth, and how much of it there is).

The utterly stupid events over the last few weeks with respect to joining forces with the DA, and then not, takes Agang’s credibility firmly into negative territory. Many Agang party members are not even sure if they’re going to vote for their own party, given that Mamphela did not even consult them about her decision to engage, then disengage, or whatever with Helen Zille. If ever a business school needed a case study for political suicide, then this would be it.

4. The Promising EFF

EFF - Julius Malema photo

Who the EFF cares about implementation?

Julius Malema, if he can escape the wrath of SARS, will likely be a real option available to the masses. Not an option that exudes mental stability mind you, but hey, you can’t have everything. The masses need only believe his rhetoric, essentially a more activist form of what the ANC has been spewing for decades and very successfully not delivering. Land reform, redistribution of wealth, cake, sushi – it’s all yours. Please don’t ask us how we’ll implement any of it, but with our cool red berets, you can be sure we can do it.

Conclusion

As you can probably tell sifting through the sarcasm, there is not much choice for South Africans going to the polls this year. If South Africa is to survive, it needs to get rid of the rot. Cushy jobs in government with no accountability have got to go. Real metrics need to be used to evaluate state performance, not easily fabricated stats like matric pass rates that measure nothing of consequence. Technology needs to be used to its full effect to deliver services, enhance education, improve telecommunications, and create jobs. People in the country need to feel safe, and happy.

For Wonkie, the answer lies in some brave, smart, grass roots face rallying the masses with a sensible way forward. One that focuses on getting the basics right: education; job creation; security; and healthcare. A leader with enlightened self-interest, rather than a more-for-me mentality. When such a leader appears, Wonkie will back them.

COMMENT on South Africa 2014 elections, the political parties, and how you will vote.

wonkie text divider

February US PB photo

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If you’re beyond the material realm already or aspiring to be so, do check out the pre-launch offer for Wonkie’s upcoming recommended read: Kineosho Learns to Walk:

Kineosho Pre-Launch image

* * *

Related articles on South African elections, and the ANC:

  1. Mamphela’s Millions
  2. Malema’s Millions
  3. Zuma’s Millions – Nkandla Scandal
  4. DA Election Strategy

COMMENT on South Africa 2014 elections, the political parties, and how you will vote.

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Comments

  1. you are missing one very important thing. There are many thigs wrong with SAat present that it Is not possible to tackle them simultaneously. The way forward is to attack corruption first. To do this we have to unite behind the DA, not because the DA IS the right alternative , but because the DA is the only viable “watch dog” in the opposition arena. If the ANC Is weakened enough to be forced Into a coallition It is a start !

    • John, you’re right about the importance of weakening the ANC’s hold. Unfortunately, with the DA’s weak approach to the election (i.e. if they do something as moronic as their previous vote for us because we’re not Zuma campaign, they are unlikely to increase their vote). Ironically, right now it seems that the EFF is the only party capable of capturing part of the masses, hence the title of the article.

      South Africa needs grass roots activism, not political parties to resolve its issues – including corruption. If the public demands accountability through civil disobedience (e.g. against e-tolls), or mass action, they can force the current government into taking action. Complaining behind the water cooler will not change anything. Action will.

  2. eish voting for what/who power mongers, greed, dictators, criminals, fraudsters, immoral, poverty, unemployment, false promises, degraded education, economic deppression list endless.
    World icon rested eternally so is the veteran voters for they were voting in honour for a person not polital party. Academics am mean really wont cast their vote for criminals, born frees didnt experience liberation struggle they wont vote because they experience fraudster and criminal leaders, its only those who benefit from these fraudulent activities will soberly cast their vote and the poorest of the poor because they are being bought with a loaf of bread as a campaigning strategy. NP/DA oppressed people when was in power and ANC is economically oppressing people, COPE power mongerism and EFF on the verge to collapse should its leader be finally be sequestrated, AGANG is a big no. And we cant just kneel and ask God without us doing something, God help those who help themselves. Amen

    • Msandas – thanks for the comment: you’ve hit the nail on the head. The public needs to act and since voting will not result in the changes that are needed (because there appears to be no party worth backing), other forms of protest need to ensue to force the government into action against corruption and fixing what really matters.

    • The fact that many former NP supporters realised the folly of their ways and now support the DA does not mean that the DA ever oppressed people, only the NP did that.
      Anybody that voted for the Progressive Party or any of the transition names up to the Democratic Party (which then became the DA) were wholeheartedly against apartheid. We welcomed the new democratic state and many of us actually believed that nobody could ever be as bad as the Nats. Sadly the ANC proved us wrong and have ruined almost everything that worked before 1994. Greed and corruption mean more to the ANC elite than building or improving the country.
      Broken promises over 20 years will never improve education, health, policing, the judiciary or even fix potholes or provide reliable electricity or water.

      • You’re quite right Tony – Wonkie believes that the current DA situation is a result of a combination of exceptionally poor brand management coupled with a complete disconnect with the majority of voters in the country.

        • Wonkie, I was raging against the ANC’s inability, after 20 years, to better the country or provide improved services to its citizens. Admittedly they have provided a number of substandard houses, electrified some but reduced supply to the majority through perennial outages, given many access to clean water, only to counteract that by appointing “incumbetents” to the purification entities (who, as the Jews would say, “don’t know from ‘sht’”, or municipalities that cut off supplies to benefit their own water supply trucks.
          I was in Cape Town recently. Potholes are completely repaired within 2 or 3 days of reporting, traffic light faults, when they occur, are a priority and basically services are top-notch. Protesters arrive from the Eastern Cape and demand immediate services from the DA that were never provided by the EC ANC authorities. Do they pay taxes? Are you crazy? Do they try to help themselves? Never! When they do get the services, are they grateful or do they destroy what they have received in order to prove that only the ANC is really capable of helping them?
          The “disconnect with the majority of voters in the country” is due to misinformation, outright lies that the DA will bring back aparthate (sic) (or sick) or stop their grants. Others receive a T-shirt or food parcel and willingly submit to another 5 years of misery because they believe that the ANC is their saviour and not a terrorist organisation prepared to terrorise its own citizens.
          How can any political party counteract this without resorting to the same dirty tactics? Tactics which would see its intelligent supporters deserting it in droves!

          • Tony, that’s why strategy is important in politics. It’s difficult to be in a position to create massive change politically unless you hold power. The simple equation following your logic is to compare the number of voters that are intelligent vs the number that would be susceptible to dirty tactics and design your election campaign accordingly.

            By Corny’s argument above, it does appear that you could probably discount all “intelligent” voters and still win the election by a landslide (incidentally, this would be the case the world over – not just in South Africa: George Bush, as a case in point).

  3. thomas mmoledi says

    Despite the past misdemeanours,rampant corruption in some quarters, the African National Congress is my party of choice. Aparheid and economic instability and unemployment is the legacy of the previous apartheid government. The ANC is the party that’ll lead the way.Not the rhetoric of the maverick Malema and the hungry for power DA.and needless to say the disjointed opposition particularly Ramphele.Malema’s policy is outdated and has failed elsewhere. He can’t be claiming to fight for the poor while he’s lining his pockets. the South African public ate not stupid. We know who will lead us for the next five years

    • “He can’t be claiming to fight for the poor while he’s lining his pockets.” – Wonkie finds it fascinating that you don’t apply exactly the same logic to the ANC.

      If you’re still willing to vote for ANC’s “rampant corruption in some quarters”, which you acknowledge, then clearly your logic is damaged.

    • Yes go ahead and vote ANC, however don’t let there be mass action and violence with strikes over the non existant service delivery, pre election promises made by our own puppet president apart from ongoing corruption. Fraud will become an accepted business as we have a government with university degrees in fraud. Even SARS will encourage them so they can collect VAT on their fraudulant transactions. Then there is the lack of clean running water in most rural areas, lack of promised RDP housing where most have been waiting 20 years for a house, lack of electricity to mention but a few.

      • Collitjies, Wonkie is afraid your logic is wasted – somehow there appears to be a complete disconnect between the ills of the country and the actions of its leaders (clearly from the original comment, this is the case – and rest assured that Thomas is not alone with his view).

        As to your point about SARS, Wonkie found it quite funny that they are now apparently pursuing Kebble’s assassin for tax on his earnings (for the job?). Sigh.

    • a-maize-ingly corny says

      “… the South African public ate not stupid.”
      Firstly, I assume that “ate” was a typographical error and should read “are”
      Secondly – WRONG!!! – the fact that a majority of voting South Africans voted for the ANC, which you have admitted has committed crimes against (the South African) humanity and is suffering from “rampant corruption” PROVES that the majority of voting South Africans ARE stupid !!!!!

      • Perhaps, in a parallel universe to which we are not privy, it is our logic that may be flawed. I suppose if one is benefiting from the corruption in the first place, one would be living in that universe and it certainly would be smart to continue voting for the status quo.

        Sadly, the majority don’t benefit from the corruption, therefore in this universe you’re, very unfortunately, quite right.

  4. frankly speaking, many of you may say the ANC has not delivered on its promises, I assure you, if you go to the townships, you will realise that the ANC is a victim of its own success, yes, it is true, there and there, there was blunders committed by individuals within the party, i still feel the party still has a lot to offer,
    Now the reality is that the party has too much power, and for certain policies to be implemented, it needs to have a partner who in parliament who will help push policies, and that party is the only party that will appeal to the youth of our country so that youth policies are put forward without compromise.
    We need the EFF now to take a centre role in doing that job, This is the reason I am voting the EFF, they are vocal about their policies, not what other politicla parties are doing hiding their policies, because their policies are actually those of the ANC.
    my vote goes to the EFF

    • Manthata, Wonkie is certainly not suggesting that the ANC has delivered nothing over the last 20 years. But Wonkie is suggesting that their lack of vision and implementation ability has led to the deterioration of many of the nation’s fundamentals – notably education. That will have repercussions for years to come as it affects job creation, economic empowerment and more.

      EFF may not be a good choice, given its dodgy leadership and severely flawed policy approaches. However, in terms of a strategic vote Wonkie has to concede that it is probably a smarter choice than the DA. The masses don’t care about e-tolls as much as they do about land reform, jobs etc.

      • @Wonkie, I agree EFF is not a good choice, however, I find it to be the only party now that can bring the ANC majority down, because AGANG and DA are lost.

        • a-maize-ingly corny says

          If the Economic Freedom Fighters’ policies ever become fact in South Africa we will be “governed” by the Economic Failure Force.
          This is obviously the EFFing WORST choice for our votes on 7 May

          • On behalf of Julias, as he is currently away playing with SARS investigators: “Hai Corny, but you are racist…”

          • a-maize-ingly corny says

            Moi!!! Perish the thought!

            For the sake of those whose language skills are limited to the Southern African languages (including English, Afrikaans and Portuguese) “moi” is French and means “me” – it is not pronounced as ‘moy’ but as ‘mwa’

          • Haha… thanks Corny – doing your little bit to help education in South Africa once more. If only we had a few million more of you running around in SA 😉

  5. You know, Helen and Mampara er sorry Mamphela missed out on a good trick. They could have stayed together, changed the name to The A-Gang and invited Hannibal and Face and that crowd to come join them. Hannibal could teach her to say “I just love it when a plan comes together” and BA could do the rough stuff on ANC members… and like that. Burt sadly that will not happen, so back to reality. I really think that Helen has lost the plot. She obviously spends too much time at toi-toi lessens and having face lifts. Last year with the grape farmers strike she was nowhere to be seen, left it all to Marius Fransman. Not good political action at all. The toilet disaster did not do her any favours either .
    I don’t know if I am going to vote for the DA this time. But then who do I vote for? Juju? I think not. Maybe I’ll just stay home.

    • Wonkie has met way too many people over the last couple of weeks who share your point of view Clivealex.

      Wonkie doubts the chaps receiving food handouts and t-shirts will abstain though – if you do, the risk is that the incumbetent hold on power only gets stronger.

      • The above was said partly tongue-in-cheek, to liven up the atmosphere after all the somber opinions. I will most likely vote DA, unless some miracle happens before 7 April (fat chance!). Helen will have to pull up her socks though. She stands a good chance of losing the Western Cape. And then where will I go? Outer Mongolia?

  6. I might be wrong, but I do not remember Zille ever been part of the NP, and also as far as I know the National Party died in 1994.

    • You’re right Ouma… public perception of the majority, however, is that the DA has replaced the NP. That’s definitely not where the DA wants to be positioned and they seem to be pathetic at addressing the issue.

  7. a-maize-ingly corny says

    “incumbetent”
    Thanks think tank – what a wonderfully descriptive word for the totally incompetent incumbents we have in so many positions of power!

  8. What we need is new policies that will deliver this country from corruption, nepotism, incompetence, violence, poverty, secrecy, stupid new laws, e-tolls and JZ. There is no party that is willing to look at what is happening in a whole new way.
    A majority of our people are either illiterate or at least uneducated almost half live in poverty, most are very poor. To address these ills we need new thinking and then we can look at fixing everything else. What stands out is that all our leaders are stuck in a trap of their own making. We need a special place on the ballot paper that says “throw them out”
    There are a few good people in SA who can do this but do they want to be tarnished by the existing parties. As for Malema’s EFF this is a bloody joke. But then again Hitler and Mussolini were voted into power.

    • Garth, to a large extent the intention, and the policies are already there. The challenge is implementation – the current leaders have consistently demonstrated incompetence and inability to make tough or even intelligent decisions. Instead, they fabricate metrics to make themselves look good (matric pass rate statistics) and create rubbish money-sinks like the NPC to generate more plans to make plans to make other plans that will never be implemented. To aggravate matters, the issue of political leaders’ self-interest contributes heavily to corruption and makes implementation even less of a priority.

      As is happening (and has happened) in many countries abroad, if the political structures are impotent to deliver change, then grass roots action (a la Arab Spring, and the violent service delivery protests that are springing up in SA) is a viable alternative to force change.

    • Hello Garth

      I have not heard from you in a long time, how is Mzansi treating you

  9. We need an absolute overhaul of government system. We as Voters must do it, question is are we willing or are we realistic with the currect state of affairs to change. There is a dont care attitude from many millions of S. Africans who vote because they are told to go do it and for who.

    • Msandas, Wonkie agrees with you. However, who should the public vote for if there are no credible alternatives that can get the job done. That’s the real issue here. South Africa needs a party (current or new) with a new leader that has some vision, strategy, determination, and the guts to make tough decisions for the long term benefit of the country. Our current menu of leaders is what makes politics in South Africa so pathetic.

    • a-maize-ingly corny says

      Like Wonkie, I tend to agree with you – especially your first sentence.
      One of the great problems in the current South African political set-up is the lack of a designated Member of Parliament to whom local issues, which may or may not have a national impact, may be taken. This is so because of the national vote being for a PARTY and not for a REPRESENTATIVE.
      Clearly, the proportional representation system is an excellent way of punishing voters for their choice of Party. There is certainly no reward for the voters – only for those “cadres” high enough on the Party’s list of candidate MPs to pass the “cut-off”.
      In the “good old days” (maybe that should be the BAD old days) before 1994, each section of the national community (known as a “constituency”) elected a person to represent that specific community. Almost all of those elected were members of a specific Party structure and the Party with the most representatives elected to Parliament would have the opportunity of forming the new Government.
      In the three years of Codessa, there were many compromises reached and all sectors of the national community felt that their views were being SERIOUSLY listened to. I believe that the time for compromise is, again, upon us. This time there should be a compromise between the two electoral systems. At National Elections, each voter should have TWO votes – one for the party of choice (proportional representation) and the other for an elected representative of the constituency (direct representation) and that the National Assembly should be made up of equal numbers of Proportional and Direct representatives.
      In this way a more diverse parliament would be constituted (even including “Independant” MPs) and would give the public a better chance of having their own concerns addressed. Who knows, it might even lead to some serious debate in Parliament instead of the incessant “sniping” at opponents.

  10. Out of Africa says

    Thomas Mmoledi’s comment reminds me of times past when people said they would always vote for the Nats because they were “Ons Mense”. No doubt too many will/are supporting the ANC because of the same sentiment.

  11. thomas mmoledi is a mindless supporter of a corrupt gang of criminals, namely the ANC. Yes they have done much in the yay of providing housing schools,healthcare etc.. but not as much as an honest party could and would have done. By voting for these crooks you are just perpetuating a disaster.

  12. SA politics is a bit of joke, there is not a party that will address the biggest problem we have. Our population is increasing at an alarming rate and no matter which party is in power, they are always going to behind with the demand for jobs, education, medical, social welfare and general infrastructure. All intelligent people are aware of this, but no party is prepared to say a word about it. The fact is if we don’t do something about it, nature will do it for us and that could be nasty.

    • Now this is the first bit of sense I have read on this thread. Overpopulation is the biggest problem in the world today. Too many people using too much of the world’s resources, taking up too much living space, not enough jobs to go around. Also too much pollution of the atmosphere, causing climate change by way of global warming. Governments are too scared to offend the powerful international companies that get rich this way.
      I think that Democracy is proving to be a failed concept. What we need is a Meritocracy, where governments are chosen for what they know, not how clever politicians they are. I know most people are going to deride this idea. I say, talk again after another 20 years when all has fallen apart.

      • a-maize-ingly corny says

        So – you are saying that your own contribution on 12 Feb was not “sense” ?!!?

        • As I said at the time, Corny, that was supposed to be a bit of fun, to lighten the mood. This time, after reading all the entries, i thought to put down my true feelings. Sorry if I offended you

          • a-maize-ingly corny says

            I suppose that I SHOULD be offended because you seem to say that my more serious comments are not “sense” but, as I like to do a lot of fun-poking (especially at the more extreme views and what I consider to be thoughtless commentaries), I cannot seriously take offence.
            Let us continue to enjoy the “cut and thrust” of both serious AND frivolous “debate”.
            If a person can’t laugh at himself (OOOH!!! Sexist!!!) who CAN a person laugh at?

          • Indeed Corny, indeed! 😀

      • There are plenty of studies that show that people hire those they feel they can relate to or those that they like. They generally value that far more than competence. Why would you think that people vote any differently?

        The masses, and not just in South Africa, don’t evaluate political candidates merely on merit/ competence – Wonkie finds it difficult to see how one can implement a meritocracy without a democracy. Even autocrats abide by some meritocratic standards – even if they define them themselves. A democracy ultimately represents what the public wants and the result of elections represents the public’s opinion of who can (best) deliver what they want.

        • a-maize-ingly corny says

          “A democracy ultimately represents what the public wants and the result of elections represents the public’s opinion of who can (best) deliver what they want.”
          And then they spend the next 5 years protesting that the elected DON’T deliver what they want!!!
          Remember the ancient Chinese proverb: be careful what you wish for – you might get it!

          • Yep – you’ve already established that the masses (in any country, for that matter) are not the brightest bunch, so Wonkie will not comment further on that point. What is fascinating for Wonkie though, is that if you do something and it doesn’t work, there still seems to be a huge propensity to believe that doing that same thing again will yield different results. Perhaps, the masses are more optimistic than they are given credit for.

        • Indeed, unless the USA does not like your democratically or popular leader it then foments rebellion and then weighs in with “regime change” in the US favour. Like in the Ukraine.

    • Chris, it is an uphill battle and you’re quite right, if the status quo persists, Wonkie has no doubt that the system will break. Even passive aggressive South Africans can only hold it in for so long before exploding.

  13. Out of Africa says

    EISH Clive – and WHO will decide who merits to rule??

  14. That, of course, is a VERY good question. I have considered the question of a panel of “Ethical” people. If we could get a panel of such people, like Graham Power for instance, we might have a chance. Naturally that raises the question “who picks the Ethical people? It would have to be people who have absolutely no interest in politics (if such an animal exists?) and have no political ambitions of their own

    • Out of Africa says

      Graham Power and like-minded people might be too ethical to step into the political realm. And in a relativistic age such as ours, ethics might no longer have the same meaning as it used to. So the conundrum remains.

  15. If we do not fix the politics and economics of this country, service delivery protests can turn into a revolution.

  16. Graham Power is an evangelist, he may promote Christian ethics but he fails to address the problem of ethics that come from our understanding of a general ethical approach that does not need a religion to support it.
    Ethics should be secular approach and should be taught in schools, promoted by Government and at the very least encourage parents to teach their children..
    Adherence to the law and a good immediate justice system would help.

    • On a recent trip to Japan, Wonkie found the people quite fascinating. Garth, if you would like to see a working implementation of your comment and to grow some hope, Japan is the place to visit.

      Of course, not all Japanese behave ethically, even by their own standards. However, Japanese society is more socially aware than most – and much of it stems from heavy-duty conditioning both at home and at schools (to the point that kids are usually taught how to behave “appropriately” before they even learn to read).

      • We don’t need a society where each and everyone behaves ethically, we just need a majority to do so. Japanese conditioning is far preferable to conditioning our kids to expect Government handouts, corruption, strikes, services and acceptance of criminal behavior. We need to promote self sufficiency, jail criminals, jail corrupt officials, do not give pardons or easy passes to pals and to stop mollycoddling striking workers. And how about providing the services that the people vote for but don’t get.

  17. A young friend of mine and his wife live and teach in Japan, they have been there 10 years and have 2 children. They have been to SA twice during that time and brought their children. When we took them to our local zoo, the kids both carried a small backpack with all that they needed inside. I said to their parents that when kids of that age went anywhere invariability their parents carried all their stuff. My friend says no, in Japan kids are taught to use backpacks from the time they can walk and are expected to do so. These kids are not mollycoddled and they are not spanked it is expected of their parents to teach a good example and be firm. The kids besides being well behaved they could read and write Japanese and English before they were five years of age. Parental education of children is considered a cultural imperative in Japan.

  18. The problem with people like Graham Power, as much as we like his ethical approach, is that when a religious group , be it Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish or whatever get into power, eventually they become more and more fundamentalist and they begin to impinge on the freedoms of those who do not follow the same thinking and they also impinge on those believers who want a secular government. (as happens in much of the Islamic world, but unfortunately also in the USA).

  19. Ho hum, the cost of the presidents speech debacle was cut by R2 million. So zuma allowed the cost of R6 million, spent on him spewing the same old lies to the deaf, the dumb and the blind majority voters.
    They wont hear the lies,
    They won’t believe the disaster this country is heading for.
    They won’t see what the strikes, the protesting, the useless police force are creating.

    I live on a plot, the ANC came around and supplied seed, fertilizer, garden tools to grow veggies providing they vote ANC…….are they conditioning them to believe they own my land? (I have no gripe if they are willing to feed themselves)

  20. A real revolution is the only solution for the poor masses of this country. And a revolution is based upon land, land for independence, to level playing fields. Today, here on this country, a teacher cannot afford to buy a plot/house and a car with their marginalised salaries. The working class is sinking in debt simply because the playing fields are not level. The EFF is speaking to these issues, I am voting EFF.

    • a-maize-ingly corny says

      For centuries it has been a truism that “actions speak louder than words”.
      Juli-arse TALKS (in WORDS) about elevating the down-trodden masses of poor people.
      His ACTIONS and LIFESTYLE are those of one who is garnering support to keep him in the LAVISH (and RICH) style to which he has accustomed himself.
      You, my poor bemused friend, are listening to the words and not seeing the actions. Wake up! Open your eyes! SEE what ACTIONS he is performing. And remember the truism above.

  21. I havent being schooled to my comprehension on thie issue”nationalisation” . I am an African and black citezen of RSA and I must be honest and realistic. Farming requires extensive experience, management and leadership skills. Yes argument will be one gains experience by being engaged but look what happened in 99.9% of farms which were given to us a black people – lives tock was sold, slaughtered for parties and ritual activities etc, we fought amongst ourselves as property (land) shareholders for individual ownership and powermongerism. Our economy cannot at this stage afford us opportunity to be trained for years in order to acquire farming experience, it will dismally collapse. Unless whoever want land is impressed with Zimbabwe situation and as for me NO I am not.
    Let there be laws that governs famrers salaries and working conditions and that there be instituitions that will efectively monitor adherence not these useless institutions that are being created for no benefit instead to reward our friends for favours. It doesnt require a rocket scientist to prove that us black people will take us many centuries to be the entrepreneur instead “capitalist nigger” squander money living lavish life as if there is no tommorrow.
    I AM AN AFRICAN-in my veins and atteries runs “black” blood because I am an African telling truth and not lies but truth only. I know my fellow black people might hate mine telling the truth and I cant change it to lie to them.
    We need to emancipate ourselves from the chains of ignorance, lies, corruption, moaning and complaining.

    • a-maize-ingly corny says

      I have to say, Msandas, that I admire your self-knowledge and respect you for your courage in feeling free to “tell it like it is”.
      Like millions of others in this poor and corrupted country, I wish for a “government” of men and women who will take up the challenge of educating/training the majority of this beautiful country’s population to take a meaningful place in the many sectors of our economy where, historically, men and women of the darkest skin have been prevented from learning and contributing. It may be costly in the short term, but the long term benefits will surely return South Africa to the greatness it started with in 1994.
      I wish that ALL “black-blooded” people were as you.

      • Msandas, a-maize-ingly corny has hit the nail on the head.
        Only you can advance yourself and only with the right attitude can you succeed.
        Relying on handouts has resulted in thousands of taxpayers supporting millions of people unable to find work and then often become too lazy to even look for it. This while the country deteriorates since whatever funds remain for service delivery are wasted by tenderpreneurs or simply stolen by government employees.
        Farm schools that existed 20 years ago no longer teach farming skills, skills that are essential for the preservation of farms to feed the countries expanding population as well as providing many job opportunities.
        You do “need to emancipate (y)ourselves from the chains of ignorance, lies, corruption, moaning and complaining.” and would have the moral support of thousands of people that desperately want our country to succeed. Unfortunately you will receive no support from a government that has failed to build the country that so many of us hoped for in 1994 but will make promises, that will not be realised, in order to retain power.

  22. a guy aged between 25-30 was speaking they way he hates other race group who were passing by, and I commented that the persons you refering are of your age group and they were not there same as you during the previous apartheid regime. They are not the architect of apartheid yes they might have benefited the same as when you Parents have acquired wealth and you become a beneficiry, why should other people hate to for it rather hate his/her parent for not sharing it with you and not the innocent person. Paradigm shift is still a very serious challenge.
    Our parents are our role model as a result I regard my parents the best comparatively to yours. A child is taught by his/her parents teaches us to love, hate, to be independent, to be a parasite etc but when I grow up should be seeing things differently especially if my parents have taught me opposite and I should be able to make my own decision. Why must I say a white person is a racist and yet havent experienced any racial behaviour simple because of his skin colour. At a shopping Mall was with my little boy eating chips and another boy who was with his mother (whites) approached my boy and give him his toy and mine gave him his chips, that was enough his mother grabbed him and shouted at him. I couldnt hold it I scolded at the mother telling her these are just boys and they dont see a baboon or monkey like you were taught. she was embarrassed because people were starring at her others even uttering racist remarks. Thats a corrupted mind, she didnt see anything wrong because she still admire and uphold her parents teachings even at her age. “ukulimala kwenqondo ukulimala komphakathi” a damaged mind is a damaged society

  23. Corny, things are not always as they seem, especialy in politics. Whenever, a human being (in this case Mr Malema) is trying or is bringing permanent solutions to the masses or to the working class, those in power always paint a picture of this human being. It is suprising not that you refer to Mr Malema as Juli-arse, this is caused by your own ignorance. The only solution for our Grandchildren and their Grandchildren is Nationalism, atleast here South Africa there is more than enough land and resources for all of us, there is never enough for the greedy. And it is these greedy people and organizations that are guilty today and they make the seen worse by making Mr Malema or EFF look silly when they are providing permanent solutions to the real people of this country.

    • Out of Africa says

      Selah:
      “things are not always as they seem, especially in politics” must surely be the understatement of the year! The last twenty years has certainly proved that.
      Perhaps you need to brush up on ZA history to realise that Nationalism was not a permanent solution in the past and certainly will not be in the future. It never has been – anywhere.
      What is the use of land if you don’t know how to work it productively? Education should be your first priority.
      Mr. Malema is judged by his past behaviour (not ignorance) which is the best indication of future behaviour.

  24. Selah’
    you are nearly correct a real revolution is the only solution for the poor masses of this country. The ANC must rake in mind that the support it has is based not on achievements but blind ignorance. We need new directions, new policies and new ideas. There are plenty around but the ANC is bound by a strict dogma which is helping nobody. Unless they change direction there will be a revolution.

  25. Garth, I agree with your sentiments about the ANC and I doubt the ANC is interested in changing. The ANC is not even honest or brutally honest with it’s self. It cannot cope with refferring a boxing match between foreign investors and the poor masses, where the masses are having the worst fight ever and the foreign investors are protected by the referree. Every time the poor people try to revolt against the injustices that they’re suffering, the ANC, sends the police to put them back in line or even kill our brothers, fathers, our women and children just to keep the investors happy. It seems the ANC does not know what kind of a product it wants at the end of the day, if the education system keeps being changed every 5 years. The EFF is solid and interested in real, radical change.

  26. Africa, the land is for indepedency atleast here is South Africa, the best land belongs to the few rich greedy individuals. People working those land are the underpaid poorest voting people of the land. You can hardly seperate Pan Africanism and Nationalism, Nationalism gives people a belonging, a shared values, a common identity and common destiny. If it is safe to judge Mr Malema based on his past, then do not the judge the EFF. I doubt if Education is a startpoint, there are more people who are educated today than there was in 1994. Education in South Africa creates some sort of Division amoungst people (classism) and it is even worse when you have graduated and cannot find work, in fact some graduates are not employable. Proffesors need to start aguing for Nationalism instead of vague policies that protects the Rich. A reliable solution is nationalism and EFF is the solution.

    • Selah. Nationalising the mines and the banks will result in the same tragedy that Kulubuse Zuma inflicted on the Aurora Gold Mine where employees committed suicide due to non-payment for their work while he grew richer and fatter by selling off the equipment.
      As for your statement that “there are more people who are educated today than there (were) in 1994”, in 1994 you could not pass with a 30% pass mark which means that you know less than 1/3rd of the substance of the subject – some kind of stupidity-pass if you think about it.
      If that is your level of education, how can you hope to be employable? What level of intelligence have you achieved, how can you contribute to the value of a company that feels sorry for you and gives you a “chance” only to be destroyed by your incompetence?
      Striving for excellence is the only means to success – graduation through substandard acceptance levels will never qualify you as as true university graduate. The universities know this but, to retain their government grants, pass numerous ‘cretins’ in the vague hope that they might improve in time.

      • a-maize-ingly corny says

        @ Selah – FYI (because from the content of your posts you probably don’t know) the meaning of the word “cretin”, according to the Oxford Dictionary of English, is “STUPID PERSON”
        And they are even more stupid than “sheeple” !
        Any further comment from me would probably be deleted by Wonkie’s moderators so I will say no more.
        But I know what I think – and it is quite possibly libelous.

    • Out of Africa says

      Selah:
      I don’t know what education you have experienced, to think it creates ‘classism’?
      Proper education broadens the mind and teaches people HOW to think and not what to think. Even if they are without employment, they generally have the intellectual capacity to be resourceful enough to diversify. It also can give one self-confidence and self-respect in NOT becoming part of the “sheeple” who have little option but to be manipulated by greedy, corrupt, inept and self-seeking leaders.

  27. Selah, I said we need new thinking, new directions, new policies and new ideas, not the same old , same old, digging up bankrupt ideologies. Malema’s EFF is promoting old ideas, neither nationalization nor Pan Africanism has ever worked. Pan Africanism has been blown out the water by xenophobia. Eventually those ideas collapse. (see Burma, Zambia, Tanzania, Argentina etc.. etc..) What does work is is honesty, a work ethic, and a good education. None of which are promoted by the ANC or for that matter the EFF. There are good ideas out there but seemingly not in South Africa.

  28. Fok die Eff … Economic freedom fighters… Fighting from what? The past … You cant change that kaffir if it wasnt for us as what you call boere . Then you would still be hunting bucks with a bow and arrow… You cant erase history by wiping out one part or race… So if you want to be racist as you are then bring it on… Looking forward for another ‘bloed revier slagting’ again…

    • a-maize-ingly corny says

      Well, well, well! I believe that the representative of the CAUSE of Juli-Arse formerly chanting “Kill the Boer” has finally shown himself.
      This kind of racial bigotry helps absolutely no-one.
      All it does is inflame tempers and give people a (so-called) “reason” to hate.
      Johan – you are lucky that this blog is “anonymous” otherwise you would surely find yourself in court for the crime of “hate speech” – and I, for one, would be watching for a guilty verdict.
      Do us all a favour – crawl back under your stone and ZIP that foul mouth of yours. And don’t forget to LOCK the zip – and throw away the key!

    • johan, your racist attitudes were probably taught to you by your parents in a community which believed those attitudes to be completely acceptable at the time.
      Even in the 1950s those beliefs were considered reprehensible by vast numbers of whites, including intelligent Afrikaners such as Jan Steytler, the first leader of the Progressive Party. Other Afrikaner visionaries such as Beyers Naude, Frederik van Zyl Slabbert and many others became aware that they could no longer accept the policies of the Nationale Party (fortunately now long dead and forgotten).
      Now in the 21st century you still retain these outdated feelings of false superiority. yet demonstrate sublime inferiority. Your attitudes incense all people of colour and only add to the divisions that the ANC normally uses to attract votes. Are you employed by them to create disharmony?
      We can’t stop you having having those thoughts but implore you to keep them to yourself, expressing them only to the tiny minority that shares your disgusting vitriolic racism.

  29. My comment was probably deleted … Oh well… Sorry i tried… Sterk staan afrikaaners and non racials… Even though i partaily regret that . If war was to break out how many non whites will turn against their white friends ? Think about it… There is no point in being equal anymore

  30. @ Johan: judging by your language, I can’t help wondering if you are a racist too; a crude one to boot……

  31. Johan, do you know how offensive your racist language is. You sound as bad as the ANC or EFF racists. There is absolutely no purpose or reason in insulting fellow South Africans no matter what colour or ethnic origin. You sound like all those mindless xenophobes who chase away people who can do a better job than themselves. We must also understand that the word xenophobia comes from the Greek and means fear of strangers and not hatred of strangers. The proper word for their actions is actually racism. Something the Government should prosecute them for and something you should stop.

  32. Johan, Corny et al. Racism, xenophobia and apartheid are perpetuated by the SA constitution and the language policies therein. South Africa should only have one official language. The problem with eleven means that people who speak one of those languages will want to live among people who speak their own language. Thus Zulu will always want to live in KZN, Xhosa’s will want to live in the Eastern Cape, and so forth and yet the Government talks about unity. It would also be cheaper and Education will no doubt improve. Other languages would survive depending on whether the people want to continue speaking them or not. For example French is not the official language of Mauritius but is widely spoken there by people who are not even of French origin and have been doing so since it was scrapped nearly 200 years ago. Yes many indigenous languages will die out as many already have in Africa, but in general language is not necessarily a component of culture. Again for instance the Scots have changed their religion at least 3 times and their language twice yet their culture remains distinctive. Masaai and many other ethnic groups in Tanzania have spread across the country and they all speak Swahili, not their native tongue.

    • a-maize-ingly corny says

      Some of what you say, Garth, is exemplified by the old Northern Rhodesia which transformed into Zambia on 24 October 1964. Zambia had, at that time, 63 different languages and Kerneth Kaunda insisted that there be but ONE National Language – English. It has been so ever since. However the 63 “native” languages did not die out, but “re-grouped” into the four basic language groups in Zambia, ChiBemba, ChiNyanja, ChiTonga and SiLozi, all of the other languages being variants on these four main tongues.
      The result, with much Government encouragement and the words of the National Anthem, Slogans at rallies etc., “One Zambia, One Nation” is but one example, the people of Zambia are more open to each other, recognising their nationality as opposed to their language ethnicity, yet still there is the constant call for Zambianisation – even to the point that some say that ABC may have been born in Zambia and so may the parents but the “blood” is not Zambian (ABC often being a person whose roots go back to Zimbabwe or Malawi [and Kenneth Kaunda is, genetically, a Malawian – 1st President – go figure!]) but the activity of those calling for Zambianisation is much less vigorous and demanding that the clamour we see in South Africa. AND they don’t go killing people or rioting about it.
      Whether this is because of the last 51 years on being an Anglophone AND English speaking country or whether it is because the “tribes” of Zambia are much more congenial than those of South Africa is another question. The fact remains that they communicate on a level footing. They educate on a level footing with much of the English speaking world by adhering to an international syllabus and taking international examinations leading to University Entrance – a syllabus followed in much of Asia, much of Africa and in many smaller states scattered across the world – the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate. And this does not have a 30% pass mark. All you need do is look at the quality of the intake at the Universities in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. No dummies there!
      Yes – switch everything to English. Give us a common footing and, perhaps, we will become a Nation. Let the lessons leaned by other “lesser” nations show us the way forward for our path is, currently, backwards – and at an increasingly swift rate.

      • Corny, thanks for your comments. Xenophobia in the South African context, or rather should we call it racism is reprehensible. However I do think the king and his racist cronies need to be prosecuted. Now I hear they want that part of the marriage act deleted that says if you want another wife you must have the agreement of the first or any other wives and any children born out of wedlock must by law be regarded as beneficiaries of wills, pensions and provident funds. A man must bear responsibility for the welfare of those who he procreated. This has a lot to do with sorting out of estates, insurances and pension benefits. The king and his buddies, the amakhosi, need to be downsized to normal citizens there is no room in a republican state for any preferential treatment or recognition. Those calling for the change to the marriage act, namely the king and his hangers on are as bad as or even worse than racists.

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