PRINCE MASHELE: Zuma's speech and the 'politics of the belly'
'Zuma rode to South Africa’s seat of power, the Union Buildings, on a bandwagon of victimhood, dancing and singing songs that glorify the machine gun'
South Africans have yet again been treated to a grotesque bastardisation of the idea of a state of the nation address. In its proper sense, a state of the nation address ought to be a signpost down the road of history. By history we mean the serious business of moulding society. Leaders who are in the business of shaping society begin by articulating a clear vision of the future into which they wish to take their societies. In this sense, a state of the nation address offers the opportunity to assess the distance travelled from the starting point to a visualised destination.Such a down-the-road assessment must do two things: gauge the national mood honestly as an expression of the people’s commitment to the direction their country is taking, and lay out a practical programme of action to inspire the nation towards a better future. It is not the spectacle of white shirts – parliamentary security – wrestling with red overalls – worn by the Economic Freedom Fighters – that rendered Jac...
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