Jessie Duarte has expressed concerns that there is a perception the ANC is on trial. Well, I have good news and bad news for Duarte, Ramaphosa and the ANC.
First, the bad news.
While the ANC is not actually on trial, Duarte can bet her bottom ill-gotten dollar that in the public perception the ANC is very much on trial and for very good reason. Duarte can pontificate all she likes about the presumption of innocence and that the ANC is encouraging its members to tell the truth but until she, and they, start walking the walk instead of talking the talk, she, and they, will be seen for what they are: deeply damaged, dishonest corrupt criminals who have raped the country they are sworn to serve.
If she, and they, are so enamoured of the truth, why was she not the first in line at the Zondo Commission to come clean and tell everything that she knows? That is what an honest person would do. But Duarte is not an honest person. Why is she, and they, only waiting to be implicated before the commission to then respond to the implications? In fact there are no honest people left in the ANC cabinet – except the newly appointed Tito Mboweni.
The only other two provably honest people in the ANC cabinet have been left out in the cold by the new and equally dishonest president Cyril Ramaphosa. Mcebisi Jonas and Vytjie Mentoor demonstrated patriotism, courage and integrity by coming out against the Zuptas and state capture but Ramaphosa refused to have these honest people in his cabinet, preferring the state capture facilitators like Malusi Gigaba, Bathabile Dlamini and Nomvula Mokonyane, among others. It’s no wonder that Jonas turned down Ramaphosa’s belated offer of Nene’s vacated cabinet seat.
If you, Ramaphosa and anyone else in the ANC were honest, you would all be volunteering to appear before the Zondo Commission and telling everything you know. But you won’t because you are all guilty of facilitating, supporting, defending and benefitting from state capture.
Despite what has happened, I have deep respect for Nhlanhla Nene. Despite knowing it would hurt him personally, he finally had the courage and demonstrated the integrity required of a substantive human being to tell the truth. It’s just a pity that you, Ramaphosa, Magashule, Mantashe, Gigaba and dozens of others are not the substantive human beings you should be to have the honour of serving the people of South Africa. You have failed the people and the country and betrayed the legacy of the ANC luminaries who have gone before you. Even as stalwarts such as Ahmed Katrada, Andrew Mlangeni, Cheryl Carolus, Dennis Goldberg, Frank Chikane, Albertina Luthuli and a host of others, whose credentials, service, commitment, humility and motives cannot be questioned, you and the ANC did exactly that. You poo-pooed these great people and defended Zuma, the Guptas and state capture as if your lives depended on it, which, for the looting of the state you were all carrying out, they did.
The ANC has failed the people of South Africa.
Under your watch the country has fallen apart at the seams.
Under your watch, the education system has become one of the worst and least effective in Africa and the world. Generations of South Africans will struggle to compete in the global job market because of your failure to provide the education we deserve.
Under your watch, the health system has got so bad people take their lives in their hands going to hospitals around the country.
Under your watch, our infrastructure has fallen to wrack and ruin while you have supported Zuma and the Guptas in the looting of our resources while stealing the income that should have been used to maintain and build our country. You all, unquestioningly, signed off on a nuclear deal that Nhlanhla Nene warned would indebt the country for decades to come.
Under your watch, the Guptas commandeered our coal resources through corrupt Eskom deals and saw our country suffering extended power interruptions.
Under your watch, the bodies of law and order were systematically dismantled and replaced by Zuma service dogs who will do anything to shield the corrupt ANC elite and the corrupt state capture machine you all manufactured.
Which brings us to the good news.
So effective have you, the Zumas, the Guptas and the rest of your corrupt ANC been in your state capture machinations, that there is no effective investigative police force or court system left to seek out you and your criminal activities so, in all likelihood, you will all get away with your corruption and, with the machinery still in place, be able to continue on in your nefarious ways feeding from the gravy trough while the country degenerates further and further beyond the point of no return. Neither you, Ramaphosa or anyone in the ANC has the will to do the right thing and serve the country you’re sworn to serve in the right way. As Zuma said, supported by you and Ramaphosa and the rest, the ANC (and its corrupt cadres) are more important than the country.
It’s time the ANC started serving the country and not themselves Jessie. But I won’t hold my breath to see that happen. But until then, let’s get one thing clear, you, the Top Six, the Cabinet (except Mboweni), the NEC and the ANC membership are all as guilty as hell. You know it. We know it. You all deserve to spend the rest of your days in orange overalls. The fact that you won’t does not mean you’re innocent. It just means you’ve dismantled and destroyed our country so effectively that we no longer have the ability to fight back against you. This is why, in the public perception, the ANC is very much on trial. This will most probably be the closest we get to exposing the corruption, lies and nauseating deceit that permeates every nook and cranny of the ANC, so we'll take it.
The pages of history may turn slowly for the living, Jessie, but, make no mistake, history will record the guilt of Zuma’s ANC and everyone who served it, you included.
