BLOG - In a landslide election the ANC has been defeated. All provinces are now in the hands of the opposition.
What makes this shocking result all the more remarkable is that candidates fielded by the opposition are all under the age of 50, and head-hunted for their experience and possession of specific skills to fill ministerial portfolios.
This presupposes that the new president can already name his cabinet and enjoy the support of MPs with professional backgrounds and savvy to debate and make clear-cut decisions benefitting the citizenry that voted for them – and of import, hold them accountable.
The nation can’t wait for the first parliamentary session without benches seating old and thoroughly spent parliamentarians holding portfolios they’re unqualified to handle and who simply go through the motions without contributing anything of value.
Another welcome change is the absence of Malema and his rowdy bunch, having been totally ignored by their former supporters at the polls.
Not surprisingly, the media has been caught off-guard by the result of the election, having predicted an ANC win albeit with a substantially decreased majority. Now editors and journalists have to familiarize themselves with the newcomers and panel-beat their editorial stance. Investigative journalists will find their new beat boring, without juicy meat. No more Zumas, Aces and their buddies to write about. Except of course if they’re found to have bribed wardens to allow their escape.
Television coverage will drastically change. Zondo commissions are a thing of the past. No more the ravings of the Celes and Mbabulas, as they’ve been replaced by professional police people who know how to handle vandals and taxi drivers. Burning trains and schools will no longer be regular features as syndicates responsible will be smoked out and jailed.
The judiciary too, will undergo radical change under the new leadership. Cases will be handled more speedily with criminals, whether politicians or commoners, being charged and sentenced without delay. Political interference no longer tolerated.
Is this not the scenario for which we South Africans have been craving? For too long we’ve been led by the nose by not only a tainted party, but one that is incompetent to deal with issues affecting the nation as a whole.
If we want this to happen, the opposition must get its act together and we have to do rest at the polls.
It’s as easy as that.
*The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, and not necessarily those of Group editors, the publishers.
