On the weekend the Sunday Independent ran a story “in the spirit of transparency and proper record-keeping” that featured a long list of names.
Each name belonged to a Member of Parliament. They had two things in common: they were members of the ANC, and they had voted Yes to adopt the report that absolved Jacob Zuma of having to “pay back the money”.
Click here to see the article, written by . It’s worth reading, not least because it highlights some notable names. Perhaps it’s even worth printing out, if you’re also into proper record-keeping.
For me, though, the list had an interesting side-effect.
As I skimmed down it, glancing at each name followed by “(ANC)”, a tired little voice in my head said, Well duh, obviously they voted Yes. Why the fuss? What were you expecting?
For a moment I almost listened to that voice. I almost let it numb me, as it numbs me dozens of times a week as I read about the latest degraded political kerfuffle. But then I realized that I was about to make a mistake. I was about to brush this story aside as the machinations of a political party – an impersonal, opaque, amoral blob – without looking squarely at the human truth behind the list.
I was ready to see the list as a catalogue of MPs, instead of what it really is: a list of names belonging to adult South Africans with free will, employed by us to lead us. Instead of doing the right thing, every single one of those MPs who voted Yes made a conscious choice, as an adult of sound mind, to endorse one of our most potent symbols of sleaze and unaccountable governance.
Some of the comments on the article see the list as a sort of “name and shame” thing. Of course it’s not that, because none of the people on this list feel real shame. If they did – if they were still in touch with themselves as ethical individuals – they would have voted No or been overwhelmed with regrets and resigned.
The article’s conclusion hinted that the list might become a kind of time capsule, beamed into our future: history, it said would decide on the virtue of those named. I have less epic aspirations by repeating the list here. I am also not presenting this as a call to action, an attempt to whip people up against this lot. I’m not speaking for anyone except myself. I suppose I’m just writing these names here as a kind of watchlist, for my personal use: a list of people I will never trust with anything, ever again.
I know that sounds extreme, but is it any more extreme than what they did by voting en masse? No, I think fairness and moderate criticism went out the window when they lined up obediently to kiss the ring of power, choosing their careers over the health of our country. If they had fought among themselves over the report, splitting into two or even three camps –Yes, No, and It Depends – I might have told myself to stay balanced. If they had unleashed on each other some of that flame-thrower rhetoric they like to use on judges and transparency activists, I might have thought, See, there are still some true democrats in there fighting the good fight.
But to present a front as united as this; not even to pretend to be interested in responsible government…I feel that I have been absolved of any responsibility to try to be fair-minded or to consider them on a case-by-case basis. Freed of that responsibility by their mass stampede towards spinelessness, I am at liberty to write them all off as invertebrate scoundrels. All of them.
Every time any of them makes a pronouncement on the state of things, I will disregard it as a self-serving half-truth or an outright lie. Every time one of them outlines a planned project, I will suspect that it is a get-rich-quick scheme for close friends, corporate funders or political allies. Every time of them attacks his or her critics, I will be inclined to give the critics the automatic benefit of the doubt.
So here’s my watchlist, without the party initials after each name. You don’t get to erase your personal culpability by hiding behind party unity. If you’re an adult in a democratic society, you are making choices for you, not your boss. And if you voted Yes to Nkandla, then you engraved your name on a monument to greed, weakness and cowardice.
You are:
Beverley Lynnette Abrahams
Freddie Adams
Patricia Emily Adams
Vatiswa Bam-Mugwanya
Kopeng Obed Bapela
Joyce Vuyiswa Basson
Simphiwe Donatus Bekwa
Francois Beukman
Phumzile Bhengu
Nozabelo Ruth Bhengu
Nkhensani Kate Bilankulu
Bongani Thomas Bongo
Mnyamezeli Shedrack Booi
Mmatlala Grace Boroto
Lynette Brown
Rosemary Nokuzola Capa
Ndumiso Capa
Yunus Ismail Carrim
Mosie Antony Cele
Lydia Sindisiwe Chikunga
Thapelo Dorothy Chiloane
Fatima Ismail Chohan
Mamonare Patricia Chueu
Jeremy Patrick Cronin
Robert Haydn Davies
Angela Thokozile Didiza
Dorries Eunice Dlakude
Bathabile Olive Dlamini
Zephroma Dlamini-Dubazana
Bongekile Jabulile Dlomo
Beauty Nomvuzo Dlulane
Mary-Ann Lindelwa Dunjwa
Cedric Thomas Frolick
Joanmariae Louise Fubbs
Dennis Dumisani Gamede
Ndabakayise Gcwabaza
Knowledge Malusi Gigaba
Nomalungelo Gina
Donald Mlindwa Gumede
Derek Andre Hanekom
Sango Patekile Holomisa
John Harold Jeffery
Mlungisi Johnson
Mziwamadoda Kalako
Hellen Boikhutso Kekana
Ezekiel Kekana
Charles Danny Kekana
Tandiwe Elizabeth Kenye
Lefu Peter Khoarai
Dalton Hlamalani Khosa
Timothy Zanoxolo Khoza
Makhosi Busisiwe Khoza
Nthabiseng Pauline Khunou
Juliana Danielle Kilian
Gerhardus Willem Koornhof
Mmamoloko Tryphosa Kubayi
Luwellyn Tyrone Landers
Regina Mina Lesoma
Dipuo Bertha Letsatsi-Duba
Fezeka Sister Loliwe
Zukile Luyenge
Sahlulele Luzipo
Xitlhangoma Mabasa
Puleng Peter Mabe
Bertha Peace Mabe
Livhuhani Mabija
Solomon Patrick Mabilo
Andrew Frans Madella
Celiwe Qhamkile Madlopha
Patrick Maesela
Mapule Veronica Mafolo
Nosilivere Winifred Magadla |
Dikeledi Phillistus Magadzi
Gratitude Magwanishe
Tandi Mahambehlala
Amos Fish Mahlalela
Jabulani Lukas Mahlangu
Dikeledi Gladys Mahlangu
Mbangiseni David Mahlobo
Moloko Stanford Maila
Fikile Zacharia Majola
Lusizo Makhubela-Mashele
Zondi Silence Makhubele
Thomas Makondo
Sampson Phathakge Makwetla
Hope Helene Malgas ,
Johanna Mmule Maluleke
B J Maluleke
Duduzile Promise Manana
Millicent Manana
Zwelivelile Mandela
Emmanuel Maphatsoe
Mohlopi Phillemon Mapulane
Moses Siphosezwe Masango
Elizabeth Masehela
Lindiwe Michelle Maseko
Kwati Mashego-Dlamini
Buoang Lemias Mashile
Nkosiyakhe Amos Masondo
Madala Backson Masuku
Tshililo Michael Masutha
Mkhacani Joseph Maswanganyi
Cassel Charlie Mathale
Dudu Hellen Mathebe
Motswaledi Hezekiel Matlala
Mandisa Octovia Matshoba
Cathrine Matsimbi
Risimati Thompson Mavunda
Comely Maxegwana
Fikile April Mbalula
Sibongile Mchunu
Mzameni Richard Mdakane
Thandi Cecilia Memela
Lindiwe Ntombikayise Mjobo
Bongani Michael Mkongi
Humphrey Mmemezi
Martha Phindile Mmola
Samuel Gaaesi Mmusi
Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe
Pumzile Justice Mnguni
Derick Mnguni
Velhelmina Pulani Mogotsi
Nthibane Rebecca Mokoto
Maapi Angelina Molebatsi
Bomo Edna Edith Molewa
Masefele Rosalia Morutoa
Itumeleng Mosala
Madipoane Refiloe Mothapo
Malusi Stanley Motimele
Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi
Jackson Mphikwa Mthembu
Nokukhanya Mthembu
Emmanuel Mthethwa
Abram Molefe Mudau
Azwihangwisi Faith Muthambi
Mamagase Elleck Nchabeleng
Claudia Nonhlanhla Ndaba
Nokuzola Ndongeni
Andries Carl Nel
Nhlanhla Musa Nene
Bonisile Alfred Nesi
Beatrice Thembekile Ngcobo
Phumuzile Ngwenya-Mabila
Mogotle Friddah Nkadimeng
Girly Namhla Nobanda
Nomathemba November
Madala Louis David Ntombela
Thembelani Waltermade Nxesi
Raesibe Eunice Nyalungu
Archibold Jomo Nyambi
Bonginkosi Nzimande
Mildred Nelisiwe Oliphant
Gaolatlhe Godfrey Oliphant
Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor
Ebrahim Patel
Elizabeth Dipuo Peters
Mathume Joseph Phaahla
Yvonne Nkwenkwezi Phosa
Imamile Aubin Pikinini
Makgathatso Pilane-Majake
Bhekizizwe Abram Radebe
Jeffrey Thamsanqa Radebe
Goodwill Sbusiso Radebe
Strike Michael Ralegoma
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa
Leonard Ramatlakane
Tete Ramalie Ramokhoase
Daphne Zukiswa Rantho
Deborah Dineo Raphuti
Maureen Angela Scheepers
Machwene Rosina Semenya
Cornelia Carol September
Susan Shabangu
Sheila Shope-Sithole
Mtikeni Patrick Sibande
Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu
Elvis Kholwana Siwela
Phumelele Stone Sizani
James Jim Skosana
Mcebisi Skwatsha
Vincent George Smith
Makhotso Magdeline Sotyu
Mohamed Enver Surty
Barbara Thomson
Sello Albert Tleane
Thandi Vivian Tobias
Xoliswa SandraTom
Tshoganetso Tongwane
Grace Kekulu Tseke
Rembuluwani Moses Tseli
Sibongile Pearm Tsoleli
Dikeledi Rebecca Tsotetsi
A Tuck
Nicolaas Koornhof
Sharome Renay Van Schalkwyk
Adrian John Williams
Sheilla Tembalam Xego-Sovita
Lumka Elizabeth Yengeni
Senzeni Zokwana
pretty damn powerful.
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So how do we go about firing these employees including the head honcho?
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Organise and vote.
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Dont forget the names of the EFF who walk out snd omitted to vote NO. By doing this they supported the YES vote and showed loyalty to their African induna.
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In the spirit of transparency, is it unreasonable to also want to see a list of those 92 that voted No and which party they represent? Because I think I’d really like to know for future who my go-to elected representative is that I may be able to trust to have my and millions of other SA citizens interests at heart.
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Oh, Madiba, Madiba, what might you be thinking if you were still with us? You certainly did NOT fight for this outcome, this absence of integrity. Please may sanity return to this country. South Africa, you could vote for something different, you know!
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Reblogged this on Digital Jungle Media.
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I believe the source of these names , can be found on “RENT A CROWD” or some library list, oh, forgot 3/4 can’t read.
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Reblogged this on INK&PAPER.
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What about Corporate South Africa? What are they doing, apart from nothing in case they lose out on the government spending spree?? Not a single word from them, nothing, chickenshit
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The only thing that’s going to save this country is another “French Revolution” we peasants must arise &revolt against the aristocracy.You said it no one cares about the peasants.There are two extremes in this country the very rich and the very poor.The middle class is a fast dying breed.if all the government officials and business are for the government of the day WHO? Is for the ordinary citizen ?
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The list is endless… This is really the first occasion that the majority of parties agree with one another on certain point. It is now time for those parties to stand together and vote cANCer out thereby cancelling the list in toto.
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Phil, it is because of Mandela that we have Zuma as president; read RF Johnson’s ‘How Long can South Africa survive?’
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The sycophants, the hanger on, the timid & afraid…they all do their master’s bidding, or they are out of a job. If they did not belong to the ANC and were not in the positions currently occupying……where would they be & what work would they effectively be doing? I leave it to your imagination!
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I’m sorry Tom Eaton, but we’re all being very self-righteous here. Your name and my name may not be on your list above, because we don’t have the privilege of a vote in parliament, but we do have the power, in concert with others, to march, lie down in front of Blue light cavalcades, be arrested for civil disobedience, stage a general strike, refuse to pay taxes, blow up a Shell pipeline, etc. etc., but we don’t, for the very same reasons: to protect our jobs, security, homes, and privileges. Your list may well mark a particularly cowardly moment in our history, but so does our failure to stop Zupta with courageous action!
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What’s wrong with good old voting? Why are you resorting to blowing up Shell pipelines when this is still a constitutional democracy? If you think it’s self-righteous calling out representative of a democracy who have stopped behaving in the best interests of the country, then you and I have very different definitions of “self-righteous”.
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Go out,, speak to people in townships. Explain what corruption means to them. Explain why a vote against the ANC is a vote for democracy, a vote for their future, a vote for improved service delivery. Let’s let the ANC lose Gauteng, even if the vote goes to the EFF for now. Make democracy great. And hey, look at the bright side.. at least we don’t have trump.
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As bad as Trump is, he’d be heads and shoulders over Zuma.
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