Bheki Cele tells officials to ‘get off their high horses’ and negotiate with Santaco over taxi strike that turned violent
From a news report
Dear Mister Cele.
Your weird...., pardon, wisdom, never ceases to amaze me. I am surprised that you have not been offered the chair of philosophy or criminology at some eminent university.
The negotiation idea is brilliant. I know from experience that it works extremely well. I was hijacked once. I did not have a high horse to get off, but I got off my HiAce. Using techniques learnt from the book 'Getting to Yes', as well as various negotiating skills training courses, I was able to pursuade the AK-47 bearing gentlemen to shoot me once only, instead of four times. A genuine win-win situation, wouldn't you say?
I see this approach working in any situation where one is faced by violent thugs or mindless lunatics. I am sure that negotiating with a suicide bomber, for example, would at least gain one sufficient time to say a heartfelt prayer, before departing precipitately for the 'bourn from whence no traveller returns'.
I trust that this is working well for you in the grim struggle against crime and violence in our land. I should think that despite the challenges of population growth, (which you alluded to earlier), expert negotiation is having a significant impact on the numbers of murders, rapes, hijackings, armed robberies, daylight robberies by politicians and friends, and all the other things that make South Africa special. The thing is that many people do not realise that beneath the hard, AK-47 bearing exterior of your average thug is a very reasonable, rational and perhaps even amiable and gentle person. It is to this person that I am sure that your negotiation tactics would appeal.
I am now filled with regret at having administered a rather vigorous kick to the loins of the last person who tried to mug me. I so wish that I had negotiated instead. I see us leaning against opposite, dead, street lamps in that deserted road, diligently working on our best-case, worst-case, likely middle- ground and best-alternative-to- negotiated-agreement scenarios. Who knows but that the process may even have brought us closer together? Perhaps even forged a friendship. Discussing varied approaches to the gentle art of mugging over tea or a glass of red wine? Co-authoring, for posterity, a seminal work entitled 'The Compleat Mugger'?
Sir, I don't know whether you also wagged a figurative, righteous forefinger at the protesting taxi gentlemen. I hope that you were careful not to upset them. One knows how sensitive taxi people can be.
Of course you are familiar with the five key principles in any conflict resolution situation.
1. Maintain or enhance self-esteem. Example :
"Your AK-47 looks wonderfully well maintained. Good work."
2. Listen and respond with empathy.
Example:
"Yes, it must be frustrating to be ticketed so many times for reckless driving. Those tickets do take up space in the glove compartment."
3. Asking for help and encouraging involvement.
Example:
"So how do you suggest that we ensure that all these petty, local and national road regulations don't get in the way of your all important business of serving the community and getting filthy rich?"
4. Sharing thoughts, feelings and rationale to build trust.
Example:
"I'm going to level with you. It leaves us with a bad feeling when you piss on other people's rights and safety. How does that make you feel? Fokol? Okay, honesty is good. Facts are friendly. Let's work with that."
5. Providing support without removing responsibility to build a sense of ownership.
Example:
"Okay, we are happy for you to have the bus lanes and the other special lanes. But we need you to take responsibility for driving safely and within the law in those lanes. Can we have your word on that? We trust you to manage that as responsibly and considerately as you've managed everything else."
So there we have it - a progressive, productive, win-win situation. The thugs win everything. The city and the citizens win buggerall. Classic South African negotiating, problem-solving and conflict handling. That's the kind of thing that's made us an example to the world. We really should write the best-selling successor to 'Getting to Yes' and 'Getting Past No', namely 'Getting to Eish'.
Thought-provoking stuff, Mr Cele, deep as a zama-zama's main shaft.
Yours in the struggle for mature, responsible, interest-based negotiating wins.
Richard
Tips for the blogger gratefully accepted
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