So the ANC is well on its way to a two thirds majority. Zapiro’s latest suggests that voters have been duped by a long line of promises headed by a snake. Satan, a.k.a the great deceiver, appeared to Adam and Eve in serpent form to convince the couple to make a choice that he knew would destroy the human race by separating them from what is good and right. Ring any bells? Zuma, deceiver? Is the viper waiting to unleash his poison with one vicious strike? The connotations of ‘snake’ are many but danger is in the foreground.
The voters, in the cartoon, are shown to form the body of the serpent, and have thus been prescribed the same serpentine attributes. It is thus suggested that the voters are part of the problem as they are the ones voting the snake into power. Inherent in the act of irresponsible voting is danger. ANC supporters seem to configure into four groups: The Loyalists, who vote ANC out of an allegiance to ‘the struggle’ rather than out of respect for Zuma and ANC management skills; The Fearful, who vote ANC in fear of a white party reverting South Africa to Apartheid conditions; The Uneducated, who vote ANC because they know no better – the fact that the majority of party votes are obtained from rural areas is telling; and finally, The Brainwashed, another name for Zuma followers who, according to a recent poll , are more likely to vote for the ANC because of Zuma’s legal troubles. It is this group that paraded victoriously around Jo’burg central on Thursday night whilst being led by their idol in a rendition of his signature tune, “Umshini Wam”, or “Bring me my machine gun”. Ironic words for a man charged with the duty of decreasing the crime rate in a nation currently crippled by violence and corruption. For followers, the song is a mass chant symbolic of their brotherhood. It all sounds a bit cultish doesn’t it? Any man who is able to maintain the respect of millions irrespective of his status as an alleged rapist/arms dealer who thinks that condoms are overrated and that showering after sex reduces the chance of contracting HIV, must be in the possession of some kind of Charles Manson-like power.
Perfectly said and although I am laughing I am super upset about the joke that has become the SA government. Are people stupid or am I stupid for thinking it should be otherwise. Sad, really sad.
very well written girl, amen!!
I wish I could be more hopeful about the future of beautiful South Africa, but with this fool as president I fear all hope is gone. I think a large portion of voters are voting with their thoughts in the past (i.e. fear) as opposed to the possibility of the future. So now there is a large portion of the population who will feel trapped and helpless through being led by a demented shepherd and they may want to escape. But new laws have made this more difficult, and at such a convenient time too (I think not).
What really grates me is how many people don’t bother to vote out of sheer laziness or apathy, sis on you!
I love your image of a demented shepherd!
The plight of South Africa really is heart-breaking. No one is surprised that Zuma is president but the two thirds deal is a little bit scary.