GARETH VAN ONSELEN: ‘State capture’ as religious fundamentalism
State capture, the dramatic and foreboding narrative that has swept up SA, is starting to mirror a kind of religious fundamentalism in its fervour. Essentially binary in nature, it has the effect of reducing public analysis down to one, all-encompassing and almost teleological explanation. As a result, the great risk inherent to it is that it makes us more obtuse, not insightful. What are the characteristics of religious fundamentalism? One can point to series of core features. There is a prime mover, to which all wickedness can be traced. In the other direction, a benevolent counterforce, served by those opposed to any malevolent threat to their power and influence. Those locked into this spiritual war are absolute in their belief. Thus, one either opposes them and the narrative they drive or one supports them and becomes a devoted follower in turn. But one way or the other, they would have it that the world is split absolutely into two. And the price one pays for denying their sto...
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