Where has Dr.Xolela Mangcu gone?

I was talking to a friend a few days ago, we were both wondering what could have possibly happened to Dr. X? His columns on Business Day and The Weekender were not published and there was no indication whether he is on leave or not? Has he perhaps been “recalled”?

Controversial as he is, I enjoy the man’s articles. I agree with half of them, the rest are simply non-edifying, especially when he starts writing about himself, perhaps I am a bit of a conservative African Christian boy who has been brainwashed to eschew self-praise.

But Xolela does exactly what a columnist should do, keep it edgy and offensive while backing it up with some substance. I guess what draws me to his columns is the controversy that he creates (endorsing Tokyo Sexwale and the revelations that Tokyo handed him substantial money prior to the endorsement is sure controversial)  and maybe his unapologetic support for Jacob Zuma (whom he initially did not like at the beginning but changed sides perhaps when Tokyo did the somersault at “Polokwane”).

Perhaps also the fact that he takes himself so seriously creates a in me a funny sense of adoration (amusement is probably more appropriate). He is black and in your face, he is definitely a conspicuous consumer who lives large. I do not approve of this nonsensical lifestyle but hey, Dr. Xolela is not bound by my conservatism.

All in all, Xolela is actually interesting, I can’t wait to read his TheWeekender ramblings, he has an offensive sense of humour that few columnists have (perhaps him and David Bullard actually share more in common than they actually would like to admit). Now the Editors of both BusinessDay and TheWeekender: “I know that the good doctor has been a subject of tabloids for his private life recently (none of my concern quite frankly), but you can’t make him the one from Ginsberg disappear without a trace like this, where is Xolela?

Zuma’s teachable moment

Published by News24

The gesture by the Zuma government to rethink government spending particularly with regards to minister's car allowance is a positive development. It signals a new age of a responsive government that is perhaps willing and ready to accept criticism and re-adjust to the concerns of its people.

Collins Chabane, minister in the presidency has revealed that a ministerial task team will be setup to relook at government spending in the context of the economic recession.

Perhaps the government has woken up to the fact that it is these momentous errors of judgement by its leaders that serve as fuel to events such as the recent community uprisings at local level. The recent luxury car splashing by senior ministers has surely been South Africa's own "teachable" moment.

However, the government need not stop at this gesture; a much more serious rethink of its service delivery arm, the local municipality administration is needed. The local government is the point of severe weakness that certainly gives president Zuma sleepless nights.
When the political appointees of the ANC fail to deliver even the most basic of services to their communities, it smacks of a ruling party that is simply unable to govern, an ANC government that faces 20 years of dismal service delivery to its electorate.

It thus remains to be seen whether minister Chabane and Manuel will be able to provide the strategic input that president Zuma's administration seriously needs. The ridiculous car allowance scheme that authorises ministers to buy cars valued at up to 70% of their annual salaries should definitely be scrapped; however the true mark of real progress will be shown by effecting the necessary far reaching changes within the local government's broken machinery.

The citizens of this country deserve technocrats at the lowest level of government that are simply able to get on with the job at hand. If it means that the Zuma administration has to reach outside of the pool of "cadres" and appoint able and qualified people, then this should be done without any delay. If not, an implosion of unimaginable proportions awaits us.

Can this new administration rise above its current challenges and limitations? Will the "alliance partners" be able to put the country ahead of self-interest? It all remains to be seen. I certainly believe this country has the capacity to do the impossible; it just depends on the willingness of those in power to do the right thing.

The “ruling party” mentality promotes WaBenzi

It was Dr. Maphela Ramphele who noted that the ANC needs to transform its “ruling party” mentality to the more accountable “governing party” paradigm. She noted that failure to embrace this identity shift stands between a prosperous and dismal political future for this country.

Rulers believe that they own state resources. Rulers do not hesitate treat state coffers like their family budget. Public opinion and discontent means nothing to them. The rulers waste no time to lord it over the masses, the ruler is above the law!

The ruler has to have the biggest mansion in town, his children have to throw the biggest parties in town, the ruler believes that his credit card is unlimited and his cars have to be the biggest luxury cars in his fleet. The rule has it very clear in his mind that the public, his servants, must foot the bill. All rulers have to look important after all.

It is when rulers are in charge that Africa usually falls apart. In Kenya they have a name for these rulers, they call them WaBenzi. This apt term literally means the “people of the Benz”, colloquially referring to the ruling elite’s penchant for expensive “Mercedes Benz” cars. WaBenzi have a belief that their status as rulers entitles them to these expensive machines, the many nights of campaigning for votes is surely reason enough to look important.

Their obscenely expensive cars will then be fitted with blue lights; what is the point of driving these cars if you are going to get stuck in traffic like the servants? As rulers they are entitled to compete with the police and emergency services on the yellow lane and through traffic lights.

As the SABC grapples with issues of survival, the WaBenzi in charge buys 2 expensive cars. As schools churn out high failure rates, the WaBenzi in charge buys 2 expensive cars. While the chief ruler laments this conditions, and says the right things about re-evaluating the laws the protects this spirit of WaBenzi, the minister in charge of science and technology also rushes to claim her spot in the WaBenzi elite.

The rulers in charge of policing also cannot be outdone, while bullets fly at shopping malls, it is their turn to join the car dealership queues! The crowning act of the WaBenzi clan should be in the forgotten province of the Free State, where the chief induna of the WaBenzi has “equipped” his lekgotla with several Mercedes Benz S600 cars.

One day the peasants shall revolt.

Another winter of shame in South Africa

Published on News24

I hate winter in South Africa! In the last winter, South Africa covered itself in shame. Foreign Africans ran for dear life, the barbarians that reside in the south had decided that they had no place at the southern tip of Africa. It was a winter of shame, the whole world watched as we mauled them like animals, stole from them and set them alight. The winter mornings of that year were dominated by hatred and confusion, how quickly had the children of Mandela turned into monsters, unbelief!

Politicians cried third force, the head of the state equivocated, what had just happened was just too much to bear. However, the emotional outpour grew in leaps and bounds as some were touched and quickened to action, signalling hope. Some South Africans sought to project another image, a brighter side of the rainbow. Surely, we are a better people than that they said. Temporary shelters were erected, food parcels were dispatched. The winter sunset drew down the curtain to this episode. But South Africans had indeed discovered their darker selves, but we sought to move on, never again!

Just over a year later, another winter season has come upon us; the demon of hatred has once again reared its ugly head. Once again, the barbarians have returned to their favourite pastime, lynching the foreigners. As the cold winter season blows its chilly winds, South Africans have shot to the international headlines, Xenophobia attacks have flared up in South African townships. This time, the new guy in charge is firmer, he steers away from the third force rhetoric; he condemns the new attacks without reservation. However, like his predecessor he fails to tackles the evil source that gives life to the demonic monster, poor services delivery or should we say failed service delivery.

It is another dark winter season, but South Africa is getting used to it. This is our forte, we will simply brush it under the carpet yet again; we will quickly forget that it has come to life in two consecutive winters. You see, talking about the failing service delivery could unravel some inconvenient truths about the failures of those who rule, it could threaten the livelihood of those elites that continue to flourish, and it could force us to look into the mirror, it is too much a thought to bear. We will rather not confront the reality that those that we have overwhelmingly voted into power for the past decade and half are perhaps the ones lie at the centre of our self-hatred. Let sleeping dog lie! A nation on cowards I say.

But we have a short collective vision; surely winter is bound to come again! We forget that at the next winter, we will be the centre of the universe; the game of billions will be played in this part of Africa! When the monster rears its ugly head again, it will be the chilliest winters of all. Perhaps then South Africa will be forced to talk to itself; maybe the damaging service delivery protests will achieve their maximum impact, the world will be at our gates! I wish those in power had an ear, all those protesting are simply begging to be heard. Beware, they will not be shy to embarrass the rest of the country if that is what it takes to be heard, to see change they have been promised. Winter is a terrible time in South Africa.