Again Zuma has underwhelmed. If there ever was an occasion when the President needed to issue a clarion call, a rallying cry, to the citizens of South Africa, it was SONA 2016. But he failed dismally. With dubious moral and intellectual credentials, I had lowered my expectations but even those low standards could not be attained. Does that not reflect the malaise in South Africa? Despite Zuma’s dismal performance was the farce not exacerbated by the EFF’s childish behaviour?

Main picture: The action during SONA 2016 was on the streets of Cape Town

The Zuma Administration bears all the hallmarks of a floundering organisation caught in the lights of a speeding oncoming train. Frozen in panic it debates whether to jump left over a cliff face or leap right to salvation.

Tuesday’s admissions at the Constitutional Court especially by Zuma’s counsel, Jeremy Gauntlett, exposed the moral turpitude of Zuma for all the world to see. Zuma wilfully disregarded the Constitution. In the process, Zuma set up parallel processes, undermined the organs of state and vilified the Chapter Nine organisation – the Public Protector – which held him to account.

From this nefarious saga, this was the most heinous crime – breaking the constitution. The severity of the crime has not yet been acknowledged by Zuma and the ANC. Gauntlet, Zuma’s counsel, was aware of the impending chasm looming large and addressed the issue being the elephant in the room.

Apart from a dearth of charisma, what Zuma also lacks is a clear understanding of how a democracy and perhaps more importantly, how a modern economy works. This fact alone will ensure that the nettle of a stagnant economy will not be grasped.

Instead of a bold plan of action what proposals did Zuma make? An investigation to move Parliament to Gauteng, cutting the number of overseas trips and cutting some free meals.

WHOOPY DO!!

So much for austerity measures.

What about proposals to dramatically stimulate growth?

What would have the investors’ response have been if Zuma had announced all or some of these measures?

• The appointment of a competent 10 man business team to take over the running of SAA until it could be privatised within two years
• Reduction of the Cabinet from 35 Ministers to 15
• The immediate relocation of Parliament to Gauteng by using existing infrastructure until South Africa could afford to construct a new Parliament building
• The appointment of a strong business team to assist Mark Barnes in turning around the Post Office within two years. If it cannot be turned around, it will be substantially pruned. Similar programs regarding Petro SA and SABC could be launched.
• Moratorium on appointment of Civil Servants for three years
• A 10 years moratorium on the implementation of BEE requirements

Would this not have electrified business in South Africa?

What was the likelihood of any of these measures being announced?

NONE.

My hopes were not dashed as I only had no expectations.

Apart from Zuma, what was the performance of the other main players like?

Baleka Mbete

Not even anger management lessons would have assisted her. The EFF set out with the intention of riling, exasperating and infuriating Mbete and they rapidly did so. Quickly she was contradicting her own rulings. This led to Steenhuizen of the DA eloquently putting her in her place. Mbete did not even have the courtesy to acknowledge her missteps.

It was not only her lack of ability to calmly handle the obstreperous EFF, but her visible annoyance at their behaviour. Her facial features and preening actions did not endear her to me.

Mbete lacks the forbearance and impartiality to handle such a delicate position. Thandi Modise would have been far more preferable.

Mosiuoa Lekota

This Rip van Winkle stirred. Mosiuoa Lekota rose dignified to the surprise of all on a point of order. Without the theatrics of a Shivambu or a Malema, he dispassionately showed his disdain for Zuma by accusing him of flouting the Constitution. “As such”, he declared, “I am not able to listen to you.”

Then the Cope delegation left the House.

The EFF

The EFF came with the objective of disrupting proceedings and this they did for over an hour. Unlike Lekota, their Points of Order were mainly spurious and meant to annoy Mbete and the ANC which they probably did. I did once catch a glimpse of Lindiwe Zulu glaring out from the ANC benches with eyes aflame as if ready to kill somebody.

Did the EFF attain their objective? Yes they did. They embarrassed the ANC but were they effective?

This was pure theatre and no substance, and childish theatre at that! Their plaintive calls of “Madam Speaker”, “Madam Speaker, I want to be recognised” while Mbete riposte was to roll her eyes, sigh and pat her eye-brows in annoyance before grudgingly after 10 attempts by the EFF to be recognised, was totally unedifying.

Unlike Lekota who succinctly stated his case that he refused to be addressed by somebody who wilfully flouted the Constitution, the EFF appeared to be petulant uncouth children.

Perhaps as some EFF callers on 702 Talk Radio recounted it, they had shown that they were a force to be reckoned with.

I disagree.

Thursday’s SANA 2016 was neither the time nor the place for such childish shenanigans. Instead, like Lekota, they should have stated their case and walked out.

Listening to the SONA does not imply agreement with the content but it is indicative of respect for the office of the President and common courtesy. Hence decorum and respect is required. Nay demanded.

In this regard, the EFF failed dismally. Perhaps their electorate are enamoured with such behaviour but most thinking people will reject such insolent behaviour.

It adds nothing to the contestation of ideas.

Instead it demeans the Institution.