TOM EATON: Wipe the slate clean by allowing leaders to open up on corruption
State capture and the Bosasa donation have tainted Ramaphosa's reputation, but a full confession will clear the air and give him a chance to get SA on the right track
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s fumbling response to the Bosasa donation scandal has harmed his reputation. Yes indeedy, that R500,000 has really tarnished the aura of the human ball-gag who stood smiling and nodding while his party facilitated the theft of hundreds of billions of rands. I know. We’re not supposed to mention Ramaphosa’s impotence — or negligence — regarding state capture. Not anymore. Not when the villains are being fired or damned by commissions. Because if you’re not a villain, you must be a hero. If you’re not bad, you must be good, right? Yes, we do love our binary hyperboles. We’re the best country in the world! We’re the worst! Mandela was the messiah! Mandela was a sell-out! Property rights are inviolable! The state must own all land! I don’t know why we are so easily seduced by these extremes but it certainly keeps politicians in clover. Julius Malema, for example, has mastered the art of hedging his political currency and benefiting from being regarded as both ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
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.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.