Two stories making the news in the last week or so, serve to indicate (or confirm) just how out of touch the ANC government is.
Jeff Radebe - Naming and Shaming Corrupt Officials
At first thought, one is tempted to consider that this is A Good Thing. Most of us would be appalled to have our good names tarnished by being associated with wrong-doing, in some form of media.
However, stepping through it logically, the plan is beset with problems.
Firstly, the presumption of innocence is a cornerstone of our constitution, thus one would only be permitted to name and shame persons found guilt. However... other than a number of high profile personalities, tried, convicted, sentenced, paroled under nefarious circumstances, now playing golf, how many state officials have actually been convicted. I estimate the number to be, er, zero.
Secondly, can you imagine how these slimy bods would love to tie up the justice department with a plethora of civil litigation, for supposed wrongful naming and shaming?
Thirdly, and this is the clanger for me... when you have found a state official guilty, named and shamed him, and then paroled him (as one does for loyal cadres), can you picture the message this sends to the impressionable youth? Yes, you may get into trouble, it'll take a while to sort it out, but at the end of it all, you'll have made a mint.
So, bottom line, Jeff... kak idea.
The Free State Government's Website
(By the by... anyone noticed that it's now offline? Wouldn't want the public at large to see how we've been done, would we?)
So, it was reported that the FS Provincial Gubbermint spent R140-million on the site.
The FS Provincial Gubbermint promptly howled with outrage that it was 'only' R40-million.
Yes, you believe it!
Here's the deal, FSPG... when you have received a website that any amateur hack could smash together using a $40 template and a few hours' labour, for a grand total of (generously) R5,000 in value, even R1-million paid would be an outrage. The fact that you justify 40-bar as somehow 'OK' shows just how out of touch you are.
You muppets, the lot of you.
Post Script...
A little bit of good news for a change... the government are winning the war on crime. Yes, they arrested eight policemen on Friday. ;)
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