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The 'daily debris' of politics

by
2008-11-24 08:11

Dear Editor,

As an undisputed leader of a political entity, Evita's People's Party, I cannot help but watch the daily debris of political dreams and nightmares swirl around my feet.

The ANC President opens his mouth and by the time he has finished contradicting himself, a thousand votes fly away. The ID wakes up and finds its deputy leader grazing in pastures greener. The DA reinvents itself while nothing seems to be broken. And COPE cannot find a name or a direction.

The ANC claims ownership of the words "African", "National", "Congress" and "People". So my advice is, choose names they have little care for - words like "Honesty", "Integrity" and "Delivery"!

But, siestog, give them all time.

My son De Kock is impatient. He lost two employees to Aids in the last month. "A breakaway party will at last give us opposition to government," De Kock says, "not just white criticism of black results."

But before I give COPE a chance, let their leaders just answer one question: Comrade Lekota, where was your voice when it was needed? Comrade Shilowa, where were you when Aids-denial became ANC policy? Smuts, where was your anger and disgust when beetroot and garlic became the official advice to dying voters?"

Ja-nee.

Evita Bezuidenhout, Evita's Peoples Party

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White_African 11/24/2008 8:54:55 AM
Indeed our young democracy needs a strong opposition to destroy the ANC's stanglehold on our country and our future. COPE get's my vote !!!

kwk 11/24/2008 8:56:49 AM
That last question bothers me too. What gives me hope though is that Mbeki is in no way aligned with COPE. If COPE was just a bunch Mbeki loyalists, it would have been a more dangerous party than the current ANC.

Cape Town Kid 11/24/2008 9:01:02 AM
The ANC does not have monopoly over certain words but they have the responsibility to protect their HISTORY and calling names.Inasmuch as the Congress of People is a historic event such as the Groot Trek, the Shaka battles, The Boer War most of these events belongs to history.Now if someone who has no direct link to these events steal the name of the event and make it their own,then that is big problem simply becos history belongs to certain events and not opportunistic "thieves"

Lucky Ralawe 11/24/2008 9:01:08 AM
What is one to make of the recent Reverend Zuma's sermon? He reportedly told COSATU shop stewards in Limpopo last week that Jesus (read "ANC") rode on a donkey (read "COPE") and Jesus/ANC very well-received. Thinking the good reception was meant for it, the donkey -COPE - returned to the village hoping to experience the same reception, but that was not to be. The latter part (about the donkey returning to the village) does not exist in the Bible. Dishonest in the extreme, I say.

Point Blank 11/24/2008 9:01:36 AM
Nothing broken there, no accusations of corruption, mismanagement or worrying utterances. Just a desire to get the job done, no worshiping of leaders either. The ANC has spent the last 2 months running everyone down, hurling insults and puffing up their ego's. How about doing the same for your fellow countrymen? I think its time for the ANC to take a break and reflect.

Linds 11/24/2008 9:04:38 AM
I heard Lekota yesterday promising people that if they voted COPE, he'll cut down waiting time at public hospitals and clinics to 30 minutes. Why didn't he do that during the 10 years that he was ANC Chairperson? Why didn't he change the electoral system then? Shikota can fool the retarded and those who suffer from amnesia, not critical thinkers!

Leonidas 11/24/2008 9:17:43 AM
Vatso!

Grace Kadzere 11/24/2008 9:22:02 AM
Unti they saw an opportunity to not only have more money but with power as well. I am all for COPE, as I am sick & tired of ANC's policies of undeliverance hence I am willing to forgive COPE leaders for keeping their lips sealed on the issues mentioned by Evita, BUT they better not disappoint us.

James 11/24/2008 9:26:46 AM
Babe, you had better change the name of your party too. You can't use "Peoples" in the name... it is owned by the ANC is it not? Regardless, you have my vote!

biobot 11/24/2008 9:27:32 AM
To answer your questions: these politicans were silenced by their good manners - everyone knows that it's rude to talk with your mouth full.

Honky Tonk Man 11/24/2008 9:33:44 AM
Ja, Tannie Evita, we are talking politics. Honesty, integrity etc and not part of ANY political parties vocabulary.

Sinudeity@Gmail.com 11/24/2008 9:39:03 AM
Meanwhile, the ANC will stop printing yellow shirts with his face on em. In hopes of correcting two issues it seems. Zuma's dwindling popularity, and, to try and impress, that one man isn't the ANC. Reminded of when Zuma was in the US. Obama/Condi refused to have their pics taken with him. But I guess it would have been BAD publicity for Obama.

Mark T 11/24/2008 9:39:35 AM
Perhaps the breakaway people were fighting behind the scenes for what they stand for now. The split was identified ages ago. Maybe to show unity, they fought behind the scenes. We do not know. Maybe the break came, because they realised their fight was a losing one within the ANC and they had to form oposition. Maybe they had more respect for the ANC than we realise. But it is time for the ANC to tell us how they will improve their policies instead of attacking other parties.

Kale 11/24/2008 9:40:50 AM
The ANC don't care about the country they only wish to fuel their own agenda, if it means creating another zim, they don't care as long as the have power. The ANC will attempt to run any opposition to the ground and I wouldn't be surprised if the truth about the ANC fueling the violent attacks came out. The ANC are a bunch of thugs and criminals.

JEFF 11/24/2008 9:44:38 AM
Your last paragraph is a cut above the rest.

slabs 11/24/2008 9:50:39 AM
Off cource COPE are a buch of thieves as you commented, they are ex ANC boys what did you expect. Stealing and curruption is part of the ANC training camp so I suppose the same goes for you and your cronies. Dont complain about your kind now doing it without you.

VG 11/24/2008 9:54:18 AM
Correction: the ANC is not "claiming ownership of the words, 'African', "National', 'Congress' and 'People'". It's claiming ownership of the phrase, " Congress of the People". If they were so hell-bent on forming a new identity separate from the ANC, they could call themselves, "the People's Congress" or even "People's Democractic Congress". But no..

Kabelo Mphalo 11/24/2008 9:56:27 AM
Well spoken Tannie Evita! I hope you have a good festive season and whish to hear more from you about the issues you spoke about here. Just remember that Comrades Shikota did speak up on those issues, but have been controled up to now. Let's give them some room to maneuvre and make their voices heard.

Dave 11/24/2008 9:59:46 AM
for President !

Karen 11/24/2008 10:05:03 AM
Many people have asked why Lekota and Shilowa did not do certain things which they are promising now, while they were in the ANC. If you think about it, perhaps they were wanting to do those things but were blocked by the rest of the party. Isn't that one of the reasons they broke away? One or two voices in a crowd gets lost, so they moved away so that their voices could be heard. Thats what I believe anyway....

Jabu Pule 11/24/2008 10:08:20 AM
Evita, I noticed that you have asked difficult questions that has always been asked by ANC. Cope has suggested that affirmative action be abolished, this is a slap in the face for black Cope supporters as this will put strain on the sluggish and struggling transformation processes. It is said that there is tension among the Cope leaders, there is even talks of two centres of power. "What goes around comes around."

AJ 11/24/2008 10:08:27 AM
That is precisely why I cannot vote for COPE; I did not vote for them when they were messing up in the ANC, so why should I now? Their track record is actually the ANC track record and that is one of failure. I cannot reward that.

zaJewel 11/24/2008 10:09:47 AM
Ms Bezuidenhout as always you make a very good point! This country has one or two problems to sort out so I was very relieed to see that what is bothering the president-in-waiting the most was children praying at school. Also, although I am not generally critical of people I must advise you that your use of "siestog" in this article was rather questionable - people have been removed from parliament for this wicked term!

shirley 11/24/2008 10:21:52 AM
And here they all are, all of a sudden, out on the streets, packed in busses, addressing the people and issues of the country they really couldn't be bothered with so long as the salary, cellphone, beeeg house, chicken and booze are all there every month. No integrity in this lot, my son has more integrity in his little finger. The parliament of liars and cheats and criminals

stephen 11/24/2008 10:32:31 AM
Ag Tannie Evita, you are asking politicians to stand up and be counted for something. Now why would they do that? It is not in their best own best interest. Viva Anarchy, Viva Nepotism, Viva Corruption, Viva ANC

Big Bad Bob 11/24/2008 10:33:20 AM
I think that too many of us want to vote for or support a party on the basis of what they're NOT, not what they actually propose to do.

Steve 11/24/2008 10:51:05 AM
"The ANC does not have monopoly over certain words but they have the responsibility to protect their HISTORY" and who is protecting OUR history? ja, thought so.

Point Blank 11/24/2008 11:02:05 AM
It's called propaganda, and the ANC know this stratergy very well as a liberation movement. Obviously they want to say things like you saying to disrupt and confuse those who have used their democratic right to vote for a new party or a new direction. I doubt there is a split in COPE its only the ANC who would spread rumours like that.

CTheB 11/24/2008 11:03:26 AM
The name Congress of the People belongs to the people of South Africa, not to the ANC. It is part of the history of the people of this country, not just the ANC. The ANC even admits this - the ANC was not the only group at the meeting. To claim that they're protecting their history is a bald-faced lie.

Ntokozo 11/24/2008 11:33:34 AM
Jabu Pule, COPE has never said AA will be abolished. Last nite Lekota at Sea Point said, "AA must be deracialised" and be based on merit. If you know the damage of chasing numbers in implimenting AA has done at local, provincial and national government, you will agree with this policy position. The other day, we heard unsuprisingly that 70% of senior manager at Home Affairs, are incompetent. As a manager, I have allways tried to employ the best AA candidate, failing which the best white gets it.

Johnd 11/24/2008 11:38:18 AM
Kid stay away from the TIK

XENO 11/24/2008 11:41:53 AM
Sorry tannie Evita. I can't vote for you. You used Afrikaans words which is a big no no in SA now a days and your a woman. That can not and will not fly in our new SA. VIVA! POWER TO THE PEOPLE. I hope you COPE with this?

ChrisR 11/24/2008 11:50:22 AM
Over a fairly long period I have read your contributions to the articles that are published. You write nonsense and crap and it seems that only people of your ilk understands you. I am of the opinion that you have some sort of virus on the brian like "mad cow" or "rabies" or "aids", or all of them. Furthermore your racist attitude should preclude you from seeking help fron white doctors when you are in need.

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