A sure sign that people have lost the plot is when everyone is encouraged to sign a “Pledge,” or “Code of Conduct.” To me, an exercise such as this is nothing but a Crock of Shit – and it stinketh to high heavens.
More politely known as "a pile of poo", the term "a crock of shit" derives from an ancient Roman custom. It referred literally to a pot (or crock) into which people would excrete if they were particularly bored by a plan which their leaders came up with. The Roman Empire employed crock-monitors who were each assigned to monitor the pot (or crock) of their leaders. Should the crock become full, it would be presented to the leader in question, who was obliged, by law, to announce that it bore a remarkable resemblance to himself, thus proclaiming he was full of crap and was, in fact, talking a crock of shit.
The first person I would present with an overflowing, fully loaded crock would be Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga.
The Minister has reepottedly issued a directeev for educaytas to engage with lennas and to discuss rape and sexual crimes with them. The lennas will then be required to sign a Pledge.
What a Crock! The educaytas are the ones raping the lennas, but the lennas must sign the Pledge! A Crock, I tell you.
Years ago, shortly after the infamous “Integration” of the non-statutory Fosses into the SADF, all members of the SADF were required to sign a Code of Conduct. The non-statutory Fosses consisted of membas of Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda, and Ciskei (TBVC) Defence Forces. As well as thousands of terrorists from MK and APLA.
I was still a member of the SADF at that time and refused to sign the Code. I reasoned that it was unfair of the authorities to expect me to sign away my perks as a soldier. They wanted me to pledge that:
I will employ methods of attack to achieve the military objective with the least amount of harm to civilian life and property.
I will not attack or harm enemy personnel who surrender. I will disarm them and treat them as prisoners of war.
I will not kill, torture, or abuse prisoners of war.
I will treat civilians humanely.
I will not tolerate or engage in rape or looting.
In other words: they wanted to take all the fun out of war! I was forbidden to plunder, rape, burn, and loot – while common criminals, and striking membas of trade unions, could take to the streets and enjoy the perks normally reserved for professional soldiers. What a Crock!
The Code of Conduct was interpreted for members of the SANDF by the Chief of the SA Navy, Vice Admiral J. Mudimu (PBUH). I therefore wish to present him with a brimming Crock as well. (Since the signing of the Code, the Defence Force has gone to the dogs.)
I’m sure you can think of hundreds of people who deserve a Crock for coming up with signing worthless Pledges and Codes. All of them meaningless.
So what Pledge would I sign, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you.
I would sign a pledge like the one signed by President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan, to implement a "100%" Islamic constitution. Sudanese authorities have cut off a hand and foot of a man convicted of armed robbery.
Instead of signing pledges, let’s do some cutting.
I would give President al-Bashir a completely empty crock – smelling of roses.
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