Burlesque South Africa

Carnival in Cape Town

‘Burlesque’ definition: an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something …

The show in South Africa put on by government and citizens generally is extending its run indefinitely, with an ever-expanding cast, constantly added material, and a steady downslide into appallingly bad taste.

The State Capture debacle continues as one of the main features on the programme, with its theme of self-interest-driven politicians, from the president down, manoeuvring to gain complete control of government, finance, and judiciary. The latter is still functioning, but its rulings are constantly ignored and not enforced, so it may as well already be in the hands of the plotters.  Dirty work is seen at almost every crossroads, literal or figurative.

There are constant attempts to distract the audience from looking at centre stage, by directing attention to minor players like directors of Electricity Supply Commission. The official opposition shoots itself in the foot by vicious attacks on one of its own for tweeting that some benefits accrued from Colonialism. (Avoid making approving comments about anything I write: they will be construed as racist.)

King Goodwill of the Zulus has even come under attack for his ‘Colonial’ attire.

A more approved outfit — ideal for any social occasion. Not sure about the hankies, though.

In the past couple of weeks, my own immediate circle of friends and relatives experienced one mugging, one burglary with many tools stolen, one car theft, and total disruption of streets by protesting taxi owners who want reduced costs of vehicles and finance and to have a slice of the distribution pie. Many businesses had to shut down for the day, with commuters being unable to get to work. Then, our suburb featured hijackings and robberies at the local malls and service stations, as well as a string of motor accidents caused by bad driving.

On a slightly wider front, fake news on social media caused a rampage against ‘foreigners’ (Africans from north of SA), and their shops on the other side of town were looted and destroyed. Ignoring real problems, the Durban Metro mayor wants the Municipal logo changed because it features a ‘colonial’ building. Wider still, over the border in Zimbabwe, doddering Mugabe is apparently incensed that some farms are still producing. They are the survivors still under white ownership or control. They must be seized and redistributed to ‘Zimbabwe youths’ — to allow these tracts to join all those that have gone fallow? 

I could go on and on …

But then, is there complete sanity anywhere in the world? Another friend has just happily escaped all of this by paying her first-ever visit to London. Guess what: she was on London Bridge a scant hour before the chaos broke out there.

© June 2017 Colonialist