TOM EATON: Give Jessie Duarte a break for strong-arm tactics
Even ANC deputy secretary-general, who is feeding at the trough, has sold her soul and attacks journalists, deserves some empathy
Yes, Jessie Duarte’s “rant” at eNCA journalist Samkele Maseko was startling. But before we call her names or ascribe her outburst to ANC kragdadigheid, let’s try to find some empathy. Let’s open our hearts and try to see the humanity in a person who is tired, frightened, unemployable and, at 73, entering the final phase of a life that, if it is remembered by anyone, will be a minor footnote in a long history of idealists who sold their principles. ’ I understand why many local journalists were alarmed by Duarte’s impression of PW Botha this week. Nobody likes being talked to harshly by the consigliere of a mafia family, even if some of the tongue-lashing is clearly insane: Duarte accused Maseko of being “the worst bully I’ve ever come across”, and this is someone who used to clink champagne glasses with Julius Malema. Perhaps that’s why Malema came out in support of Duarte on Thursday, retweeting Tony Yengeni’s opinion that Duarte had put “Maseko into his miserable DA little corner”...
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