It is quite something that the news headlines of the past few weeks have been dominated by a former president trying to either get his name on the ballot or stay out of jail; a former public protector attempting to get her fingers on a R10-million gratuity that she forfeited by being stupid and conceited; the now-familiar service delivery bungles; and weather disasters in various provinces.
We almost forget that 30 years ago the hope of freedom that was so thick in the air was being pierced by bombs, guns and spears as forces resistant to the democratic transition upped their game of violence in the hope that the process would be derailed.