With Hindsight

 Dear Fellow South Africans  

The president faced questions about campaign contributions. Surely none of us can escape scrutiny.

I am therefore stepping up to the wicket of my own free will. 

I wish to clarify and explain the circumstances around my campaign to be class president several years ago. My campaign was financed by Bassa's General Dealers, purveyors of fine sweets and confections. This was common practice at the time. Indeed, worldwide, I suspect. I must state categorically that no promises were made or implied. There was no expected quo for the quid. I did recommend Bassa's to classmates but that, too, was common practice. With hindsight, perhaps the full nelson was a persuasive technique no longer appropriate in these more enlightened times.

It was also common practice to lobby for votes on various issues. For example, we defeated a vote of no confidence after some civilized, rational discussion. And negotiating techniques widely used internationally (Sicily, Colombia etc.). Again, with hindsight, things could have been done differently. The soles of the feet are apparently better suited for this sort of thing. That's according to the better espionage thrillers.

We also used cadre deployment. Our deployees, however, were well muscl.., sorry, qualified. Disciplined too, as they never questioned decisions, regardless of how, er, innovative those were.

It's important to point out that policy was never made on Twitter or Facebook. Ours was a collegiate leadership. Besides, we had only Mixit back then.

I am ready and willing to testify at the commission's pleasure. Health permitting, of course. It is flu season.

Yours in the struggle for full disclosure.

Richard 

Tips for the blogger gratefully accepted 

Capitec Bank, South Africa  

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O Tichmann 

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