Arrogance and complacency to the fore in ANC reaction to protests

By Alec Hogg

Arrogance and complacency. Ignoring these twin demons imperils even the most powerful of our species, including the Zuma Administration. Its reaction to last week’s protests, however, show these worthies are impervious to the danger.

First arrogance. Yesterday Zuma dismissed the protests as racist, claiming “some posters depicting black people as baboons……..some of our white compatriots regard black people as being lesser human beings or sub-humans.” So how come all those cameras missed these sensational placards? Just because you say something doesn’t make it so.

Then complacency. The ANC claims just 60 000 people participated in the anti-corruption marches. Aerial shots show there were at least that many in Cape Town alone. Add at least 20 000 each in Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Durban. Plus thousands more in smaller towns across the country. Downplaying the numbers also doesn’t make that true.

The 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer says only 15% of South Africans trust their government. For the second successive year, that’s the lowest in the world. After the ANC’s reaction to anti-corruption marches, I wouldn’t expect any rapid improvement anytime soon. Roll on 2019.

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