Apart from hurling abuse at cheating Australian cricketers, one of SA’s most popular pastimes, politically, is looking through the rear-view mirror. Every anniversary, birth and death, from the great and the good to the great and the bad and those in-between, is occasion for a sonorous declaration, a street renaming or a taxpayer-funded celebration. Both the best and the worst of SA were conjoined after the death of Nelson Mandela in December 2013, when funds intended for transport to his funeral were stolen by East London city council politicians and officials. And, furthering our best traditions, two months ago the public protector found that two ANC councillors and the former mayor had "acted dishonestly, without good faith and in a manner that compromised the integrity of the municipality". Extraordinarily — or not, since the events occurred during the heyday of the delinquent Jacob Zuma rule of ruin — the trio have yet to be convicted by any court of law, although they finally ...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.