This conversation took place at the Zoo Lake bowling club in Johannesburg, South Africa. Clive Woolsley is a 28 year old waiter who is soon leaving for Japan (any day now). Felix Mpofu is a 26 year old journalist from Rosebank. The two men were discussing President Jacob Zuma’s recent visit to London and how he was received by the British media.
Clive: Look at the paper here. They should pass a law to stop Zuma going overseas, its embarrassing!
Felix: A president who can’t leave the country isn’t a president.
Clive: A president who has more than one wife isn’t a president.
Felix: Um...
Clive: It’s like having Snoop Dogg as your president.
Felix: No, you can’t compare him to Snoop Dogg...
Clive: They're basically the same person!!
Felix: How??
Clive: Well...They’re black... and they both sing about having lots of guns.
Felix: You know, there are a lot of people who identify with Zuma. To call our elected leader a buffoon insults the whole country and the people who voted him in.
Clive: I didn’t vote for him. He doesn’t represent me. Voting is just The Man’s way of pulling the wool over your eyes bro.
Felix: So, you can see everything clearly? Tell it like it is then...
Clive: This story just confirms for me what ALL South Africans think, which is that we're ashamed to be South African.
Felix: Hang on, hang on! No, no, no, you can’t just make such sweeping, inaccurate statements like that!! Don’t forget, these headlines were written by the BRITISH PRESS: right-wing, colonial, conservative bigots who see everything from their very rigid and narrow-minded world-view. What you have here is two forces of buffoonery colliding... on the one hand you've got a guy who, certainly, is not the greatest representative of South Africa, but on the other hand we've got the white, conservative, colonial press who judge him strictly from their "colonial master" mindset. And as a South African, maybe you should be asking yourself why you instinctively take the side of THOSE buffoons over OUR buffoon?
Clive: Mmm... Ok, ok, so English people are all dumb, are they? So tell me... who's the South African Richard Dawkins then?
Felix: Richard Dawkins? Eish man... What has that got to do with anything?
Clive: If there's no God, then there's no right or wrong. Then we're both right.
Felix: Yeah... and we're both wrong...
In all honesty I am not against Jacob zumas shananigans. Yes he was wrong in having extra marital affairs but then again so was bill clinton.
ReplyDeleteMy problem is two fold firstly Jacob zuma goes to the uk and talks about zimbabwe, what is up with that? Forget about our neighbours problems my buddy and lets focus on our own problems and believe me we have enough to go round. We need to as a country focus in on those problems identify them and raise helpful sustainable solutions that the government can actually action.
2nd problem is a question of leadership there seems to be so much fighting within the ANC that the charade that has been going on for so long is finally coming down and the bare truth is coming out. We need some structure. As south Africans its no longer good enough to point fingers and say those oaks are doing it wrong we have to actively help out and make the difference.
One South Africa for all
Jeff
Bollocks Jeff Zuma is the problem dont you see. He is not leading he is a populist leader with no political clout.
ReplyDeleteA puppet I tell you a puppet
THe british tabloids would probably run the country more effeciently than Zuma is right now.
Jake
Sussex
Anonymous
ReplyDeleteI endorsed a Zuma presidency , as I thought his populism would stave off the revolution amongst the the proleteriat. Jacob would be seen as the leader they can relate to. Zuma isn't a statesman , he is the anti-Mbeki and thats why he received a lashing by the british press.
Most of the comments directed to Zuma by the British media are true.He is a buffoon!!!! Though Zuma's delegation apparently re-assured the Brits that nationalisation of industry wasn't on the cards for South Africa. Fears in the Bitain( and the rest of the world) of Zuma's cosy relations with the trade unions.
A Zuma presidency gives space for various actors to manoeuvre.The state ,its departments , and the business community. Zuma is not a centralist , his predecessor was seen as Machiavellian.
South Africa has moved its International relations focus (mbeki years)and placing priority on poverty alleviation , improving industrial policy , and education. Though lets hope the 'man of the people' can translate his message to the masses.
Dogleash
Johannesburg
@Dogleash: I do not agree that Zuma is a buffoon. He is not a puppet either.
ReplyDeleteYes, the ANC and South Africa were ready for an "anti-Mbeki" but it took a skillful and sophisticated political operator to provide such an option.
The ANC is too complex a political organisation for a "buffoon" to succeed in. That Zuma is an opportunist, and has a flawed character, with interesting and convenient "traditions", I do not dispute, but to Jeff's point:
Would you consider Bill Clinton to be a buffoon?
Yes, both men were promiscuous and abused their position of power, but both are incredible politicians, in their own contexts.