RELIGIOUS LEADERS - A CALL T0 ARMS

> Archbishop Thabo Makgoba defied President Jacob Zuma's warning that churches and clergy must desist in engaging in politics. In a blistering Christmas midnight mass sermon he castigated the country's leadership for "their insatiable appetite for obscene wealth, accumulated at the expense of the poorest of the poor".
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>> The Archbishop likened the current political leadership to living under a apartheid-era state of emergency. The deteriorating socio-political environment compelled the Archbishop to "get political". It was a rallying cry for all religious leaders to speak out against unchecked corrupt political power, unlimited government's policy and looting of state resources.
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>> What if Martin Luther King Jr. and Archbishop Desmond Tutu had decided not to "get political" when it came to institutionalised racism? 
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>> Religious leaders must fearlessly speak out against Zuma's government that in so many ways has lost its way, and consequences be damned. 
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COLEEN MAINE - ELECTRICAL BRAIN IMPULSES OF A HUMMING BIRD

What do Donald Trump and ANCYL president Coleen Maine have in common?  They both radiate warm and fuzzy feelings for Russian president Vladimir Putin.  What's more Maine is so enamored with Putin that he pleaded with his idol, Jacob Zuma, when addressing a recent ANCYL Freedom Lecture, to be "the Putin of South Africa".

Although Maine did not offer an explanation for his plea, one can readily presume that he wants Zuma  to follow Putin's example in not only expressing his contempt for the West, but also to bring  about economic freedom, as Maine believes, Putin has done for his countrymen.  He must be living in a parallel universe unaware of the extreme economic hardship Putin has inflicted on Russia's proletariat.

Maine must also be suffering from the ravages of mental midget disease in believing that he and his comrades "will be in charge of the economy of South Africa" by instigating a falling rand and its subsequent rise. His prescription to controlling the economy defies rational thinking.  But, then there are those who are drawn to ignorant men of the likes of Maine, who are accomplished at spinning a web of false promise based on a false premise.

Maine's message to the party faithful was nothing more than code for the ANC's catch phrase of the month "white monopoly capital", the perceived obstacle to taking charge of the economy.  The scenario will play out, and in the end the rand will nosedive sounding the currency's death knell in lockstep with the Zimbabwean dollar.  Who will Maine blame for the chaos that will surely follow?  None other than the  ANC's go-to imaginary Third Force.

Maine is very much like his idol Jacob Zuma.  In the words of George Bernard Shaw:  they know nothing, but believe they know everything.

'THERE'S NONE SO BLIND AS THEY THAT WON'T SEE'

The eminent Justice Yacoob recently excoriated *John Matisonn in a letter published in the Daily Maverick.   Matisonn questioned the appropriateness of Professor Maguvhe's appointment as chairman of the SABC board, because he is blind.

What Matisonn should rather have taken issue with was Maguvhe's lack of qualifications for the position, inasmuch as his physical disability had nothing to do with his lack of ability.    Maguvhe's appalling performance at the ad hoc parliamentary inquiry into the SABC speaks volumes, leading to at least the following inescapable conclusions: ignorance as to his role and duties as chairman, and oblivious to being manipulated by others at the SABC to further their own ends.

Maguvhe's atrocious performance at the inquiry necessitated a review of his educational background.  His educational credentials, which included a less than stellar co-authorship of publications in non-peer review less than reputable journals, leads to one inescapable objective conclusion:  Maguvhe's academic background cannot under any rational basis meet the universally accepted test for a professorship.  What then possessed UNISA to confer a professorship upon him?   The answer must lie within the ruling party's cesspool of political cronyism in which UNISA must have been a willing participant.  

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 *John Matisonn has since apologised to Justice Yacoob, who is blind, for his insensitivity.
  

            

ETHICS, CRICKET & FAF DU PLESSIS

The appeal by Faf Du Plessis against his fine for ball tampering was dismissed.  It was a wasteful and frivolous exercise with zero chance of success.

What was it that Du Plessis, his teammates and executives at Cricket South Africa caused them to conclude an appeal was appropriate?  If it was based on Du Plessis' lack of intent to alter the condition of the ball, his defence was doomed to fail. All that was required was a finding of ball tampering for punitive measures to be imposed.

Du Plessis' decision to appeal,  aided and abetted by his teammates and Cricket South Africa smacked plainly of arrogance, and the belief in the 'can't do no wrong' syndrome.

The game of cricket is imbued with an abiding moral imperative, and it is "just not cricket" without the ethical value.  Cricket is the loser when ethics are hit for a six - it's no secret who did the hitting.

SABC BOARD CHAIRMAN - NOT FIT FOR ANYTHING

SABC's board chairman Mbulaheni Maguvhe had his day before the parliamentary inquiry into his fitness, including others,  to hold office.  

Listening to the man testify evoked a whole range of reactions from shock , anger to pity.  He was clearly out of his depth, lacking recollection, and when he did respond, was generally incoherent to the issues at hand.   Even committee ANC MPs were embarrassed, and joined the rest of the committee in expressing their disdain.  Their disdain does not, however, shelter ANC MPs from contributing to the destruction of the SABC in failing in their oversight role. 

Maguvhe's appearance unequivocally confirmed that his appointment to the SABC board was not based on merit, but rather political patronage, or cronyism.  He joins a long list of politically ignorant elite who enjoy the benefits of patronage, or cronyism,  not fit to hold office.  

THE ERSTWHILE RATS OF FAWLTY TOWERS RUN FOR COVER

The Roman scholar Pliny wrote "when a building is about to fall down, all the mice desert it".

So it was with former SABC board members and CEOs who abandoned Fawlty Towers (to borrow a Hogarthism) like rats deserting a sinking ship.  It was not an overnight turn and run for cover, but rather one when Fawlty Towers was about to run aground.

Former board members and CEOs have lined up to testify before the parliamentary inquiry into the SABC.  Those who have testified are readily divulging the systemic rot in the halls and boardrooms of the SABC.

Why did it take a parliamentary inquiry for these former SABC bosses to step up and spill the beans?  Simply because of concerns of personal well-being, having enjoyed the fruits of the poisonous tree during their tenure.

It remains to be seen whether they escape the dragnet of malfeasance.  Until then one telling word, amongst many, comes to mind for these individuals:   hypocrites.

ANC FINALLY SHOWS SOME BACKBONE

ANC MPs who were part of the communication oversight committee inquiry into the deplorable actions of the SABC board finally had some sense of their oversight responsibilities. 

The day's proceeding can best be described as tedious.  ANC committee members in the guise of questions launched into mostly rambling  quasi-intelligible narratives.  The result was two-fold:  rising room temperature from all the hot air, and puerile attempts at distancing themselves from any culpability in the destruction of the SABC.  Nonetheless it did appear they were leaning to hang their SABC comrades out to dry.

It remains to be seen if the report to parliament references the committee's lack of inexcusable oversight in contributing  to the SABC's destruction.

ZUMA'S WARNING TO CLERGY: RENDER UNTO CAESAR . . .

President Jacob Zuma recently addressed members of a church group, and used the opportunity to berate churches and clergy for engaging in politics instead of praying for political leaders. 

Our President is seemingly unaware that most organized religions regularly offer prayers to bless him with divine empowerment in the performance of his role as head of government.  

Inasmuch as prayers for divine empowerment remain answered, religious leaders are duty bound to "get political".  They must champion our foundational principles - including the importance of human freedom and justice for all, the danger of unchecked corrupt political power, unlimited government, looting of state resources, and living within our national means to prevent future generations from drowning in public debt.  To this end, religious leaders are compelled by a moral imperative to "get political". 

What if Martin Luther King Jr. and Archbishop Desmond Tutu had decided not to "get political" when it came to institutionalised racism?  

People of faith, and certainly the clergy, are obligated to speak out boldly to Zuma and his government that in so many ways have lost their way.  They must speak truth in the political sphere, even if it means "getting too political," no matter what the consequences.