February the 2nd and The Big Bash.

The Big Bash to which I refer is not the upcoming party for all UCT students, but the recent 100th birthday party of the ANC, and the relevance of the second of February. As you no doubt know, Suzy Q is a party lover of note, and a glass of champagne will be proffered at the drop of a hat, should the occasion dictate. I did however, have cause for concern over the mega ANC bash held in Bloemfontein to celebrate the party's centenary. The past is important, it made us who we are today, but we also have to consider what we are doing today and what we are going to achieve before tomorrow. The ANC, as far as I can see, and  please don't mock my kitchen sink vision, is spending so much time commemorating it's noble past leaders, and so much of it's current funders money, that it's navel gazing (sushi jokes aside) allows for no future planning. They may just have read one of my earlier blogs, and taken the "make hay while the sun still shines" suggestions way too literally.

The Big Bash was held in a truly elitist fashion, with fat cats cruising in to play golf in state of the art vehicles (knocking the"we were only allowed to be caddies before" dictum for a six) whilst wearing designer gear and expensive watches, watched on by the impoverished masses they are overpaid to represent. Style gurus/public thieves to aspire to and look up to? Role models for the next generation? How could they honestly, with a clear conscience, squander so much money when unemployment, poverty and hence crime are at an all time high? Aislinn Laing in The Telegraph (see link below) asked whether it would not have been better to mark the occasion by building 100 new schools, roads or hospitals? Not to be so ambitious, Suzy Q asks, what about 100 clean, private latrines?

Are we forever going to be looking backwards, spending good money celebrating the achievement of past, braver, leaner leaders, or are we ever going to make progress? Feb 2nd marks the day that in 1978 absolved prison warders of murdering Steve Biko, and in 1990 announced the imminent freedom of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC. Is this what our beloved Madiba spent 27 years in jail for, being urinated upon by prison warders on his journey to Robben Island and missing the funeral of his son? Is this what Steve Biko died for, being bludgeoned almost to death before being driven naked, manacled and uncovered from Port Elizabeth to Pretoria in the back of a truck? Is this what Dr Neil Aggett, tortured to death for his liberal white beliefs gave his life for?

No, I definitely think not! I really, really don't think so...


I truly cry for my beloved country!


See: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/8999921/ANC-at-100-This-isnt-a-celebration-for-us.-What-have-we-got-to-celebrate.html