Dear Mr Zuma,

Given some of the stuff written lately, one can’t blame you for being sceptical about anything from the Fourth Estate. But the national mood is so dismal, that I hope you’ll replace prejudices with a generosity of spirit by reflecting on what follows.

Neither of us should have been surprised that yesterday’s TNS survey on corruption painted a bleak picture. But to read that 90% of South Africans believe corruption has become a way of life in our country must have come as a shock even to one who interacts regularly with ordinary citizens, as you do.

It’s just perceptions, I told myself. Things can’t be that bad.

Then I started replaying things in my mind. And remembered how just last night my teenage daughter told of an acquaintance who was so drunk after a night out that he forgot to take off a ballet tutu he was wearing. On his one-eyed weave home, the tutu-wearing drunk was pulled over by a SAPS officer.

But there was no night in jail and an embarrassing court case for this accident-waiting-to-happen. My daughter says the lad’s only complaint was that because he was so smashed this time, it cost R600 to bribe the boy in blue. Much more, he bragged, than he usually had to fork out.

That also got me thinking again about the Glenn Agliotti affidavits.

Remember, those sworn statements signed by the self-confessed gangster and “friend, finished and klaar” of our crooked SAPS Commissioner Jackie Selebi. Just in case they’ve been kept from you, the affidavits are at the bottom of this page.

They are morbidly fascinating, reading like a sick novel.

In his effort to cut a deal, Agliotti now doesn’t seem to know what he believes nowadays. But his affidavits are so specific and obvious that there can be no doubting the veracity of much which emerges from his gut-spilling. It might even have been an addendum to economist Steven Levitt’s Freakonomics where the New Yorker delved into the criminal world to see what made the underclass tick. Insights that are similarly obvious in Agliotti’s contributions.
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What is the problem with these ANC people? I am getting rather sick of their leader’s rethoric of murder and mayhem. Julius Malema’s comments to kill “counter-revolutionaries”, including those in the ruling party, who undermine party president Jacob Zuma, are nothing short of incitement to commit murder!

This guy needs to be charged and jailed for these sorts of comments. If I got up and made death threats to someone else I would be arrested, tried and imprisoned, yet he can wander around freely repeating these terroristic threats!

Look at what this madman has said:

“We are prepared to die and take up arms only if the need arises. Killing counter-revolutionary forces hell-bent to reverse the gains of our revolution…there are people who are all out to destroy JZ. They are found everywhere, all spheres of life, in all sectors, even in the ANC.

“They push their agenda, they will reach a point to engage directly fire by fire without using the law. The only option (we have is to) engage through fire. There are still right-wingers who want to overthrow the black majority rule and are also found in the ANC”.

Why does the ANC ruling elite not fire him? The only thing we hear from other organisations like the SAHRC are demands to retract his statements. Why hasn’t Zuma denounced him yet? Why do we not hear calls for his arrest?

Melissa Moore, head of the Freedom of Expression Institute’s (FXI) law clinic, said if there was a threat of imminent violence, then Malema would have transgressed the boundaries of freedom of expression. I totally agree with this. But people are too scared to stand up and take action.

“The reasonable person would view his statement as incitement to cause imminent violence,” Melissa Moore said.

The funny thing is that so far the police have declined to comment on the “alleged” comments. Why are they not ACTING on it?

Especially in the light of the recent violence in SA, Julius Malema needs to be arrested and held accountable for these comments!

Was the ‘Million Man March’ a success or failure?

In one way it was a failure in that only 7000 people took part. But it also highlighted what many South Africans feel - it doesn’t matter how many people march, the government will just ignore it as usual. This apathy was underscored by President Thabo Mbeki’s absence at the proceedings.

Over the past several years we have had petitions, had other marches, formed community safety forums etc but with very little result other than lip service from the government. Again with the Million Man March, Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour who accepted a memorandum promised that the government was listening to the people’s grievances and wanted to make sure that criminals did not “mess with” the freedom of others. He probably took the memorandum inside and threw it in the bin.

So why does the government ignore these protests? Well this is where we come full circle. South Africans, particularly non-Black ones, are renowned for their apathy. We sit back and grumble and moan but usually just accept the way things are - whether we like it or not. Usually we take no action whatsoever to rectify the situation. If we actually got off our butts and DID something, then maybe the government would listen.

What do you think the result would have been if a million people actually DID show up? We the people would be forcing the government to take us seriously and to live up to their promises, but when we have such apathy, they can just ignore us. Until we as South Africans start to work together en force, the government will continue to ignore us. After all, what do they have to fear from a few armchair moaners?

So was the march a success or failure? You tell me!

I interviewed a resident of Zandspruit in regards to the recent attacks on foreigners. I wanted to get an idea on what was going on there and the reasons for the xenophobic attacks. Here is what Florence Gumede (not her real name) had to say:

JS: Have you seen firsthand any of the xenophobic attacks?

FG: Yes. A group of people burned down a shack near to where I live. The shack belonged to a Mozambique citizen who has been in this country for a number of years. Luckily he was not there at the time. People are still waiting around to see if he will return.

JS: Now that the army has been deployed and their is a strong police presence, do you think that the attacks are now over?

FG: Not at all. People are tired of living the way they are. These attacks are only a beginning - they will not stop!

JS: What do people think of the politicians and ANC leaders who have visited these areas to try and bring about peace?

FG: They do not understand us. They live in a different world where they are rich and get what they want. They can never understand our feelings and problems. For them they just don’t exist.

JS: Surely peace is a good way to go. Couldn’t we listen to the politicians and maybe they will listen to us?

FG: (laughs) Look at what they are doing! The foreigners go to the police station and the churches. There they are given food and blankets. Here our own people go hungry. Why doesn’t the government help their own people?
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Isn’t it funny how the politicians get themselves in a knot because convicted killer, Van Schalkwyk, was included in the Puma’s team when most of those same politicians are convicted criminals themselves!

If they weren’t blowing up innocent people in the name of the struggle back in the day, they have been involved in some dodgy things now - like the travelgate saga for one!

Now it appears that the government is going to stop all pending actions against those found guilty in the Travelgate scandal and that they also agreed to pay the legal costs incurred by MPs who challenged their alleged debts in court.

According to Friday’s Gazette, the Bathong creditors would meet on May 23 to adopt the following resolutions:

# “That the liquidators are hereby directed not to pursue any action as against the various members of Parliament in relation to the un-invoiced tickets, levies and/or services.”

# “That the liquidators are hereby directed to cease all other litigation as against the members of Parliament in relation to all ‘vouchers’ that may have been utilised by Bathong Travel (Pty) Ltd or its directors or shareholders.”

So it seems that the government is now going to cover up the crimes of the guilty parliamentarians and pretty much use its power to thwart any prosecutions. This is the most ‘in your face’ thing I have ever seen this corrupt government doing. How can they justify protecting and AIDING criminals??? How can they get away with it???

I am outraged at this and so should you be!