Share

SONA and its aftermath

I have taken somewhat disengaged view towards politics lately, but the events of last month really changed a lot in South African politics and the minds of the people. The thing is that for the first time in very long time, you simply can’t be disengaged anymore…

This became most apparent to me when I was visiting local tavern, instead of the usual loud beating noises coming from the stereo. The radio was playing one of the many heated debates in parliament, instead of the usual rowdiness there was an acute attentiveness from everyone, with the occasional sneer remark.

Everywhere I walked it seemed like that everyone was listening to the jostle in parliament and it was playing on every loud speaker imaginable. The next day I could also not escape the throng of public uproar or jubilation of the parliament’s squabbles. The whole gravity of the event was hit home when my uncle, a man that is the most apolitical man I know, remarked, firstly before any greetings, what a clown Malema was.

I am sure most of you are aware of most of the happenings in parliament lately, but I would like to maybe highlight one or two things for you which I found of paramount importance. Firstly, SONA saw the EFF suffer its first significant political squabble, though it was decisively dealt with (it is ironic that similar violence was later used on Malema and his cohorts in parliament mere hours later) and the Bikoist klipgooier’s revolt seems to have failed.

Secondly, the jamming of the cellphone signals, not very bright idea by the ANC and I am sure liberal commentators will be foaming at their mouths for years to come over the breach of number of rights. This was probably the biggest and most unneeded blunder for the ANC. Thirdly, it seems like the only way to get something significant into the ANC’s collective consciousness is to beat it in.

Fourthly, the marriage between two natural ideological enemies, EFF and the DA, to counter the stronger opposition of ANC might probably be the future crux of South African politics. The survival of this Alliance is both the best hope for democracy and probably the greatest threat to it as well. Morally, even the DA seems to be compromised to bow to popular pressure and seems to even disregard etiquette by insulting the President. The Liberal DA of Tony Leon is dead.

In the end the most significant thing I can take out of this whole fray is that Julius Sello Malema, praise him as a saint or hate him as a sinner, has given this nation’s people a political consciousness.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 399 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 564 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.43
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.2%
Platinum
910.50
+1.5%
Palladium
1,011.50
+1.0%
Gold
2,221.35
+1.2%
Silver
24.87
+0.9%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE