Also Sprach Ramaphosa

"Opposition parties have"never given you R350", the DA are"the biggest liars", and former president Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe Party is the fake MK....."

Thus, it is reported, spake Mr Ramaphosa, at an election campaign meeting (Also Sprach Ramaphosa).

Rewind to several centuries ago:

"We bring you gifts from the great father across the sea", said the leader of the expedition. A flourish of the hand and his companions opened chests full of glittering beads and mirrors, alluring but, all in all, of little value.

Fast forward to 2024.

"We, the great fathers, bring you these gifts", said the leader of the 2024 expedition.

The trunks were flung open and out spilled intermittent electricity, taps without water and the dazzling ThreeFifty. 

"The ThreeFifty is the gift to you from the great fathers across the river",  continued the expedition leader. 

"For this ThreeFifty we fought and planned for many years. This great gift will take you into the bright future we have planned for you."

He paused.

"But beware of others who would rob you of the ThreeFifty that is rightfully yours. They will speak honeyed words, promise strange things, but ask them: 'where is the ThreeFifty?' In particular, beware of those in blue and those with the shield and spear logo. They are cunning deceivers."

"We are going to erect statues and monuments to the ThreeFifty across the country, that you may always remember. And so, you will never be lured away by strange deities."

And a great cheer went up from the people assembled there.

The otherworldly, sweet singing of the  sirens was said, in times of myth and legend, to lure sailors onto the rocks.

With apologies to Simon and Garrfunkel:

In Eskom's waning light I saw

Ten million people, maybe more

People cheering without ceasing 

People hearing without listening 

People making sounds as if they ever cared

And no one dared

Disturb the sounds of sirens 

And the people bowed and prayed

To the ThreeFifty God they made

And the signs flashed out their warning

In the words that they were forming

Then the signs said: "The shape of the future is painted on crumbling walls

In rotting halls

And warbled in the sound of sirens

Tips for the blogger gratefully accepted 

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