Overpricing and oversupplying of goods and services did not start during Covid-19. It has been there since 1994 but reached its climax during the reign of former president Jacob Zuma.
But loyal supporters continue to deny most ANC members are corrupt to the core. There is no way service providers not connected to ANC politicians could inflate prices and be awarded a tender worth millions of rand.
Of course, politicians deny they are involved. Most politicians are good at lying and denying. Nikita Khruschev once said: “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge where there is no river.”
The ANC is now failing because billions of rand have disappeared from the fiscus and no one has been held accountable. But we, the people of SA, poor blacks in particular, are complicit because we keep on voting for the corrupt ANC.
Yes, the ANC fought for freedom but it does not have a divine right to steal money from the fiscus – the people. In my opinion, real freedom fighters met their creator without stealing a single cent from government.
The false freedom fighters are looting public money left, right and centre, calling themselves revolutionaries when they are actually hyenas and vultures who devour whatever is in front of them. They even kill their opponents in broad daylight and in turn they are protected by the organisation because of the innocence principle mantra.
Only fools believe the nonsense uttered by Ace Magashule and Pule Mabe, that ANC is fighting corruption. They feed ferociously from the same trough, like pigs.
There is also the narrative that the ANC needs to be renewed. But I doubt the OR Tambo School of Leadership is going to produce the desired results as the minds of the majority of comrades, old and young, are polluted by greed. Honest men and women who oppose graft are labelled anti-revolutionaries.
And President Cyril Ramaphosa cannot take decisive steps against corrupt comrades. The “New Dawn” promised to root out corruption has been deferred because of unity in the ANC.
The other day an ANC supporter on SAFM Radio said it is wrong for us blacks to criticise ANC politicians as Afrikaners did not criticise their politicians while stealing. But ANC impoverish the majority, while looking after few connected individuals. The apartheid government looked after its people across the board.
ANC politicians lack moral ethics hence stealing is not an issue. It is normal, all in the false promise of serving the poor black masses.
When they unveil substandard RDP houses, they beat their breasts that they are delivering to the poor as if the money came from them. A friend once said: “To applaud a politician because he has built a hospital, a school or road with public money is the same as applauding an ATM for giving you your money.”
They cannot maintain their lifestyle without kickbacks to buy expensive single malt whiskies. Investigations of corruption are a waste of time and money as there will be no consequences even if it is proven beyond doubt they monies have been stolen, as seen with recent Covid-19 fraudulent tenders.
Even the R70bn loan from the IMF could find its way to their pockets as plans are already underway to siphon it.
Former Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin once ripped the feathers off a chicken as lesson for his followers. When Stalin tossed bits of wheat at the bleeding chicken, it followed him.
He said: “This is how easy it is to govern stupid people, they will follow you no matter how much pain you cause them as long as you toss them a little worthless treat once in a while.”
This is exactly what ANC politicians are doing. They steal money meant to uplift the poor, and give back little bit, just to make people hopeful more will come, as they continue to follow....
The country is bleeding, like the Stalin chicken; the question is how long the masses will continue to follow, by continually voting ANC?
*Phangani is Sowetan reader.
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