The silly (elections) season is with us again.
Nearer home the first casualty appears to be a politician of the highest order, based in Bela-Bela.
At the time of writing we just had a serious engagement with the reporters, trying to come to terms with rife rumours doing the rounds about locals who had allegedly been employed at the
traffic department in Bela-Bela, without due process.
I am not about to mention names, although it feels like closing the stable gates when the horse has bolted.
A leader of a local civic movement had reportedly been interviewed by Thobela FM about the matter, spilling the beans on the alleged shenanigans at the traffic department.
Never mind the cautious approach from me as the editor at The BEAT, the rumour mill was already on overdrive with regards to the rumours.
My personal gut-feel is that if the rumours have a shred of proof, then someone has been unbelievably reckless.
My approach in this regard — and by extension my colleagues, the reporters — is to attempt to clear the bushes, by offering the allegedly embattled politician the platform to articulate his
own side of the story.
We believe that all said and done, the politician has the right to reply and clear his good name and integrity.
Also, Lizzy Bapela told me about further rumours on social media, with the self-same politician accused of handing out RDP houses to friends and acquaintances.
I have advised Lizzy to back off from people deliberately using all sorts of media — including perhaps ourselves — to settle personal scores.
The silly season is indeed changing into higher gear.
Last week we ran with an article based on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) unveiling Saturday 26 January and Sunday 27 January, as the final days for potential voters to register.
We also expect and welcome political parties visiting The BEAT offices to drum up pre-election manifestos.
Some political parties with deep pockets may as well buy advertising space to articulate their unedited messages.
As per tradition, the ANC was the first to hit the campaign trail on the occasion of the launch of the party’s manifesto in the city of Durban last weekend.
We shall attempt to hear first-hand from delegates arriving back to the Waterberg to give us the feel of things at Moses Mabhida Stadium last weekend.
On the soccer front we join millions of South Africans to mourn the untimely passing of soccer legend Phil “Chippa” Masinga.
I personally had the honour to share the dinner table in Potchefstroom with Phil — together with then Bafana Bafana head coach, Shakes Mashaba — on the occasion of the Cricket World Cup in
South Africa in 2003.
Hamba kahle ndoda emadodeni, qaqwe la maqawe (Rest in peace man amongst me, bravest of the brave).
— The BEAT
