The Ghost Of Van Riebeeck

Dear ANC 

People can be so ungrateful and unreasonable.

A family member complained today about the dry taps.

"It's been two weeks. Bloody useless KZN government !"

I pointed out that that was unfair. Last

week it was electricity. Try to keep things  in perspective.  It's also wrong to call our leaders useless. Look at the nice, expensive funeral they gave that celebrity. Makes one feel all warm and fuzzy inside during this time of torrential rains and destructive floods.One looks forward to more of this sort of generosity and compassion in a needy province.

"Always look on the bright side of life", I said, breaking  into a merry tune. "At least you still have air."

"For now", he said grumpily. "Wait until tbey...." He left it unfinished,

and me mystified.

One cannot lay all the blame for corruption, mismanagement, buffoonery, incompetence, decay and disorder at your door. What about the lingering effects of the vile deeds of that foul 

rotter, Jan van Riebeeck, the villanous racist, colonialist swine? I tried to explain this to a friend who'd experienced a home invasion. 

"They know not what they do",  I said. "It's that bastard, Jan. 

He seemed to understand because he turned bright red, clenched  his fists and stared off into the distance, as if seeking some sign of the lingering, malevolent 

presence of that accursed Sailing Dutchman.

Then there's also Apartheid.

The ANC are trying their best. They have conferences, commissions, think tanks, imbizos, indabas and more. What more

can we ask of those tireless warriors who risk their very health on conference food and drink?  Grass burns on the golf course. Call it the supreme sacrifice. Oh, the demands of the struggle!

It's been rotten luck that none of these have made an indent on the problems of crime, rampant corruption, crumbling infrastructure, poverty or the other ten pages of South African misery. But maybe a few more conferences.....

I know of your sterling efforts through the SABC, who cover your exciting, enthralling, inspirational meetings more

comprehensively than they do wars and other catastrophic events worldwide. Thanks to them I am highly educated about ANC branches, slates, positions, acronyms and vote buying. Riveting stuff. 

You have been most consistent and constant.  I heard promises today that I first heard almost thirty years ago.  I love your wholehearted, unrelenting pursuit of the wet....sorry, of the dream.

People need to be realistic. You cannot do anything, oops, I mean everything.

The scuffle continues.

Yours in the struggle against the ghosts of van Riebeeck and Apartheid.

Richard 

Tips for the blogger gratefully accepted 

Capitec Bank, South Africa  

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