Nothing will change

Do you honestly believe that things will change for the better after the elections? Think again.

People are excited about the coming elections. The politicians are out in droves – giving away free T-shirts, caps, and KFC – making the usual promises of free houses, free services, free farms, free condoms, free water and electricity – and promising jobs for the hundreds of thousands of uneducated, unskilled, unemployable people of this country. And everlasting life, on Sugarcandy Mountain, if you vote for their party.

All together now: (Sung to the tune of Clementine.)

* Rings shall vanish from our noses,
and the harness from our backs,
Bit and spur shall rust forever,
Cruel whips no more shall crack.

Riches more than mind can picture,
Wheat and barley, oats and hay,
Clover, beans, and mangel-wurzels
shall be ours upon that day.

You believe this?

Don’t.

Life in this godforsaken country is not about to change in the foreseeable future.

South Africa will still owe close to R2 trillion in foreign debts. Our economic growth rate will still be pathetic. Millions of people will still be unemployed and living in squalor, in squatter camps. What remains of our infrastructure will still collapse at an alarming rate. Our incompetent politicians and government officials will still enrich themselves at the taxpayers’ expense. Our cops will still be corrupt. Racism and xenophobia will still be our national sport. Strikes, riots, looting – blocked roads and burning tyres – will still be the order of the day. Crime will still be rampant. And taxis will still be allowed to rule our roads.

Whether you decide to vote for the Yellow, Blue, or Red party, the outcome will be the same: incompetent, corrupt clowns will govern this country until Zuma Jesus comes again. Or even longer, if necessary.

Believe me; I know what I’m talking about. I’ve seen the movie.

*George Orwell’s Animal Farm