Gareth Cliff updates scathing open letter to govt – 7 years on

The controversial first letter almost led to Gareth Cliff being fired from his job at 5FM. However, Cliff noted that “Despite everything I raised in my letter, I am prouder and more dedicated to South Africa than I ever have been.”

Following the original outcry, Cliff issues an apology of sorts, saying that he never intended to “pick a fight or sleight (sic) individuals”.

On Wednesday 25 October, Cliff wrote an updated letter, addressing the fact that not much has changed in government since 2010:

“There’s no way that any of us could have known the scale of the state capture that was being planned in Saxonwold when I wrote those words. What has taken place since then is a level of crass greed and theft that beggars belief. State-owned Enterprises have become vehicles for plunder and nest-feathering. GuptaLeaks including revelations about Dubai property, mines bought and sold, military airports used for civilian wedding guests and the appointment of cabinet ministers by an unelected Indian family show just how brazen this corruption became.”

Education system deterioration

Cliff also laments the fact that since the original letter was penned, the country’s education system has deteriorated significantly.

“Since this letter, the education department has split in two, Limpopo went without textbooks, children continue to learn under trees, teachers have molested pupils, Fees Must Fall boiled over and thousands of qualified students have found themselves unemployable.”

President afraid of assassination

Cliff notes that President Zuma attends public events with large numbers of bodyguards and even some members of the Special Task Force.

“In other words, he’s not sure the people won’t try to kill him. The ANC are more unpopular than they have ever been; they’ve lost Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and many smaller municipalities. The most powerful province – Gauteng, is likely to drop out of their control soon. The 2019 election looks like it will be a near-run thing (sic).”

“We will beat the tyrant”

Cliff remains positive about the future of South Africa, highlighting the access to the internet, and the resilience of civil society as two positive influencers for change.

“The eventual return of the business community to the discourse and the solid, stoic men and women who represent the backbone of working South Africa, all is not lost. We’ve won against tyrants before, we’ll win again!”

Read the full blog on Cliff’s website here.

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