Shell-shocked SAs speak: Seriously, 2020 – what the heck?

While it's true that each year comes with its own trials, triumphs and tribulations, it feels as though 2020 really did a number on us. From a deadly pandemic hitting our South African shores, to watching in horror as Donald Trump and Joe Biden verbally attacked each other like children in front of the globe, we've probably seen it all. Sometimes all one can do is take to social media for a laugh or to vent, and our BizNews community never disappoints.  – Claire Badenhorst

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Here are just 12 of the times when 2020 either surprised us or gave us the middle finger.

Read also: Why Steinhoff skelm Markus Jooste, former CEO, is a free man – NPA. #2020 in review

1. When Covid first reared its ugly head in Sub-Saharan Africa and we knew so little about it. 

Remember those early days when you were too afraid to cough for fear of being tackled by your colleagues?

Commenting on a BizNews article, shotofhealth said, "Whatever 'COVID' is, IT'S NOT WORTH DESTROYING OUR ECONOMY FOR!!! And never, ever before has the world shut down for a circulating virus. It is INSANITY. Isolating people from people is also INSANE. All it does is LOWER OUR IMMUNITY. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!"

ExAfricaSemperAliquidStultum had a more sinister view. "There is no 'Covid-19'. It is Chinese Communist Party Biowarfare lab Wuhan virus. Yes, the same communist party that owns South Africa and Marikana Cyril."

2. Then it was announced that South Africa would be entering a three-week lockdown. 

Of course, the initial lockdown got extended – again and again – and hand sanitizer soon became the world's hottest commodity. South Africans started baking banana bread like it was going out of fashion, and as a result, there was a shortage of everything from yeast to baking powder. South Africa had some dark days, though, with alcohol and cigarette sales being banned for several months, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs and sparking an illicit tobacco trade boom.

3. The state put aside R500bn to help fight the spread of the virus, only to have it stolen. 

Remember when we had to deal with corruption cases surrounding the purchase and supply of PPE? In July, President Cyril Ramaphosa committed to taking a hands-on approach in the battle against theft and graft related to Covid-19 funds and price gouging. We finally started seeing some results in October when the Hawks and the NPA arrested over 100 people in a corruption crackdown. 

4. The ANC and its countless attempts to resuscitate South African Airways. 

The troubled airline has been grounded since March 2020 when the country went into lockdown. The state-owned enterprise has been guzzling taxpayers' money for over a decade and yet, in October, finance minister Tito Mboweni approved another R10.5bn bailout for SAA. The government recently announced that it may sell shares in SAA once the carrier has been resuscitated.

5. When South Africans had enough and took to the streets to protest against farm murders.

"The ANC and the EFF should change their war cry 'Kill a Farmer, kill a Taxpayer'". If taxpayers are not getting killed in this country, they emigrate. #voertsekANC will have to be more creative to generate more WTF (white taxpayer funds) from the remaining few," says Morena Zwekwati.

6. The US election race which was both alarming and entertaining. 

It's common knowledge that 'when America sneezes, the world catches a cold' – naturally, the globe had a vested interest in the results of the US election. Whichever side of the fence you're on, this was, without doubt, one of the most closely watched moments in history.

7. When Cyril announced his economic recovery plan.

In October, the president revealed an ambitious post-Covid-19 recovery plan which aims to generate 800,000 job opportunities. The plan detailed four interventions which included a massive roll-out of infrastructure throughout the country, the rapid expansion of energy generation capacity to secure reliable energy within two years, an employment stimulus aimed at creating jobs and a drive for industrial growth.

Graham responded with, "Eish. Sounds like blood letting to fix an anemic patient to me!"

"You don't just generate or create jobs," agreed Movingthegorgonzolaback. "They are the result of or flow from economic activity. For the economic activity to be sustainable then the jobs must be profitable. So ramaflop must talk about how he is going to get sustainable economic activity going? Economic activity that will absorb an exponentially growing population. I just don't see it? Or am I missing something here?"

8. Remember when former SAA chairperson Dudu Myeni gave a frustrating three-day performance at the Zondo Commission?

Not only did she reveal the identity of a state capture witness and refuse to answer any questions, but she also admitted lying about her degree to a chorus of angry chants.

"This is why international investors stay away – they prefer more market-friendly economies as opposed to a banana affair," comments Shane Sutton.

9. The time when an arrest warrant was finally issued for Secretary-General Ace Magashule.

Rumours circulated that Magashule could face arrest as the Hawks and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) apprehended several suspects involved in an asbestos housing project in the Free State. The housing scandal happened on Magashule's watch as he was premier of the Free State when a tender for R255m was awarded to Blackhead Consulting in 2014, a company owned by businessman Edwin Sodi. Several ANC officials were arrested, including Olly Mlameli and Tim Nthimotse.

"Don't discount the possibility that the NPA brings a weak (calculated) case against Ace, and that he comes out with shining colours," wrote a dismayed Andre Moore.

10. The day when Jacob Zuma walked out of the Zondo Commission. 

After insisting that Judge Ray Zondo recuse himself from the state capture inquiry, the former president eventually made an appearance. Not only did he submit a 102-page affidavit that claimed how he and Zondo were actually friends, but he also walked out of the inquiry without excusing himself. The Zondo Commission's secretary, Professor Itumeleng Mosala, has filed an application at the Constitutional Court to have Zuma summonsed to testify in January and February next year.

Movingthegorgonzolaback said, "You simply cannot make this sh1t up! How can someone who was captain of the ship when it hit the rocks still be having such an impact on our lives? From his side he has to crash the commission. May the force be with you judge raymond as you craft your decision. No wriggle room! He is a good wriggler!"

11. We watched in disbelief as South Africa plunged deeper into junk territory.

Moody's Investors Service joined Fitch Ratings in lowering the South Africa's credit ratings to a level worse than in 1994.

12. The time when the Democratic Alliance released a list of former government officials and politicians who have been flying on taxpayers' backs for the past two years.

The exposé revealed that about R10m is used each year to pay for luxury flights for former ministers, deputies and their spouses, all courtesy of long-suffering South African taxpayers.

There were many more moments in 2020 that made us shake in our boots, and as we head towards the end of this gruelling year, all we can ask is this:

2021, please be kind.

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