The cheap politics of resurrecting old cows

His name is Mzwandile Masina, who was the Trade and Industry Deputy Minister.

Across the pond, a different scenario played itself out, reminiscent of the movies Olympus Has Fallen and London Has Fallen.

In this case, it was Tshwane and Johannesburg that fell, meaning where the ANC lost power as DA mayors have taken up the charge for the next five years.

Here in Ekurhuleni the ANC has held firm, preventing a significant move of political power towards the opposition.

As the saying goes, change is as good as a holiday, and yes, change has indeed come to our doorstep, no matter if the change will be positive or negative.

And so, once the announcement on Tuesday was finalised that the ANC outvoted and out-muscled the DA, despite the EFF’s charge to see the ANC dismantled, I sat down at my computer the next morning expecting to find the press release of our new mayor.

And yes, there it was – a speech of length but without the vibrancy of a Barack Obama “Yes We Can” propaganda piece.

So I set myself to the task of delving into the mayor’s rhetoric (all the while getting this feeling this speech was well rehearsed ahead of time), expecting to find some motivation, some inspiration or some hope for the future that lies before us as Ekurhuleni citizens for the next five years.

Sadly, such matters of motivation or inspiration were sorely lacking in the document that glared back at me like the e-toll monster. Rather, I was overwhelmed by bitter politics that just left a nasty taste in my mouth.

For anybody who read his speech or who listened to it, here is the summary: The ANC remains the glorious party of choice, and shame on those who betrayed the party by voting for the opposition.

Our new mayor dragged up a whole lot of old cows from the ditch, citing the uprisings of Soweto (really?), the death of Solomon Mahlangu (this was a stab at the people of Tshwane) and how the people of Nelson Mandela Bay have apparently easily forgotten the death of the Pebco Three.

And our new mayor ranted on about how this country must never again sell itself out to imperialism, how Jesus, it seems, is the Lord of this metro (this was just a cheap blow) and how Barney Molokoane did not die in vain.

Our new mayor highlighted how Molokoane throughout his entire life never lost faith in the justness of the cause he championed, and so our mayor labelled it as a sad day that so many people had betrayed the party that apparently had done so much to transform the lives of its people.

So naturally, dear reader, I was left rather astounded, confused, perplexed, disappointed and saddened by our mayor’s nasty political onslaught and blaming the people for the country’s woes.

Let us make it very clear. The new generation of South Africans do not really care about Solomon Mahlangu, or the Soweto uprisings, or so much about those who died or those who struggled for the cause simply because it is 22 years down the line since the first democratic vote.

All that the new generation cares for is electricity to power their laptops and cellphones, and all that they care for is getting a decent job with a decent salary so that they can live a decent life in a proper house.

What was so sad about this inaugural speech is that the elections was certainly not about white versus black, but was about creating opportunities, a better life for all and a future brimming with hope and promise.

So, sorry, Mr Mayor, we should no longer be living in the past, dragging up old cows, because South Africa has moved on and the youth wants proper education and a proper healthcare system.

Blaming the past is cheap propaganda. It might have worked in the 1990s, but this is now a far more enlightened and educated South Africa that is not fooled or tricked by old cows that are resurrected to frighten the masses.

It does not matter who provides the brighter future – if they be white or black or coloured – it is about service delivery, about economic stability, security and a sense of hope.

Such political rantings as seen in the Ekurhuleni council chambers will do nothing to build pride, unity or a sense of belonging among the people of this metro, including here in Boksburg.

Mr Mayor, we do not live in the year 1993. This is the year 2016. Let us all please get with the times.

There are, after all, other, more recent, cows of corruption and incompetency that draw our attention.

By the way, as a final word, remember the proof lies in the pudding, so let us see Mr Mayor where we stand in the next five years, and I write this is not as a white South African but simply as a citizen of this country.