Fancy titles must be earned
GOVERNMENT’S new attempt to stick to protocols is time consuming and unnecessary.
Take for instance Monday’s Department of Transport statement announcing the launch of a new Rea Vaya route. It referred to the Deputy Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga as the Honourable. This is in addition to latest tendency of referring to President Jacob Zuma as His Excellency.
Why it there this sudden change and desire to glorify senior government officials? Respect should be earned through their hard work, not freely dished out.
Last week, Zuma told congregants in Limpopo that those who insulted leaders in position of authority would possibly be cursed. Earlier this year, it was reported that the ANC was looking at introducing a law that would make criticising a President illegal.
The President, as an employee of the people, should not be immune to criticism. And he should not be glorified by this name-calling to prove that he is respected.
His Excellency and the Honourable are terms associated with kings, whose citizens worship the grounds on which they walk.
These are not names for a democratically-elected President and ministers, especially those who are yet to prove that they deserve any honour over and above the office they occupy.
