The South African media and its political "analysts" are outraged by the ANC government's latest example of corruption - personal protective equipment (PPE). This was not supposed to happen again especially after their man, Cyril Ramaphosa, was appointed on the ticket of anti-corruption and as a corruption fighter. And it happened under his nose including among his personal staff.
As Ramaphorias, i.e. supporters of Ramaphosa, they ignored that while in Zuma's cabinet he facilitated Zuma's and ANC's corruption by going along to get along and being party to it. (It's significant the Zondo Commission won't investigate his role.) Despite him being an absent president and an imposter and there being evidence he will not measurably change the country's fortunes even if he could (he's waiting to settle in, they said), they cheered him, ignoring his blatant, serial failures.
As the country's economic situation worsened and sunk into the inevitable ratings agency default early this year, most like Peter Bruce, News24's Adriaan Basson and others, less stridently than before, held firm Ramaposter can save us.
Then the coronavirus pandemic struck. They forgot their doubts and praised Ramaposter for his quick and decisive action, expediently ignoring he and government waited until 1 000 deaths to impose a lockdown, giving it time to get a foothold in the community. Other countries didn't wait that long. He and government were informed by the science, they said.
After government capitulated to pressure groups and denialists and ended the lockdown after two months, doing what no country except the US did and against WHO advice - opening before infections curve peaked - and infections surged, they changed their story and said lockdown was to prepare the health system. Lockdown, or isolation, is to stop the spread of infections. It's secondary purpose is to prepare resources.
The lack of preparation during the preceding two months was evident, though. Hospitals were overwhelmed and in the Eastern Cape near collapse. There were delays processing tests at the national laboratory. And their heavy handed and inept management of regulations created confusion and dissent. Also, they no longer listened to scientific advice, "sacrificing the science" for obscure and unaccountable reasons.
The mood swung against Ramaposter including from his erstwhile media cheerleaders. He and government were losing the public's confidence, they said. He's not leading and has lost control of the "hyenas" (his words) in the ANC looting from the people at this time of all times.
But what did they expect. Ramaphosa is a reluctant president and never was the person his supporters think he is. He doesn't lead, but dilutes responsibility - an ANC trait. Forming a cabinet commission to investigate the corruption is another futile gesture. The people stealing from South Africans sit next to him and are his colleagues.
We've been her before. This is not surprising but that his media supporters think he would have been different than his predecessors.
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