Expensive lies can be very costly

Unwilling to check, we humans really do believe every big fat lie repeated often enough.

Through the ages, politicians worldwide have used the technique known as the illusory truth effect to sell their electorates a load of hogwash.

It was a propaganda technique used extensively during the World War II.

Today, the echoes of the truth effect resonate daily in our parliament through phrases like white monopoly capital. But it’s not just politicians deceiving us with fabricated fantasies.

Every Tom, Dick and Harriet seems to be able to con the living daylights out of us.

South Africans, especially, appear to be gullible when it comes to believing the big lie. I reckon it must be in our DNA by now – having been lied to for so many generations.

Even worse, is that we don’t just believe every well-repeated cock-and-bull story. Sometimes, we even throw our hard-earned money at it.

Remember the enigmatic Adriaan Nieuwoudt and his infamous Kubus scheme? He conned a reported R140 million out of all-believing folk with his “milk culture” pyramid scheme in the early ’80s.

Fortunately, there are exceptions. Like former police minister Nathi Nhleko’s attempt to pass off the Nkandla swimming pool as a fire pool.

No amount of repetition could put even the faintest ring of truth to that cuckoo concoction.

But the worst lies are ones we tell ourselves because when we believe those, the consequences can be devastating. Just ask Sibongile Mani from the Walter Sisulu University.

“I can keep the money, I can keep the money,” she must have told herself over and over after a whopping R14 million was erroneously paid to her, instead of her usual R1 400 monthly allowance.

Now, she has to carry a R800 000 burden for as long as it takes to pay back the money.

If she had spent it on a house, or on shares, South Africa probably would have had some sympathy. But on clothes and parties? Aikona.

Sadly, the only time you get to keep the “bank error in your favour” price is when you play monopoly. But she knew that.

Danie Toerien