When Mokotedi Mpshe “plagiarised” a dusty and overturned foreign judgement to justify dropping the embarrassing charges against the ANC president on the eve of the 2009 elections, most of society simply shrugged and got on with their lives. Some media and opposition parties made noise for a day or two, but there was really little or no outrage, even though this act was a daylight pointing of the middle finger to all of society by an elite that was determined to retain power at all costs. The electorate went on to vote the ANC into power with an overwhelming majority — implicitly endorsing its programme and approach to governing the country. As we speak, only the DA is in court trying its best to reverse these outrageous decisions.
For all in society — churches, universities and civil society at large — these matters are seemingly off the table and life goes on. In fact, the religious sector outdid itself by forming a new prayer club for the president and his new administration instead of sharpening its role as a conscience of a society that desperately needs it. The list of issues that in other normal democracies would outrage the electorate grows: whether be it the blatant overlooking of a deputy chief justice who dared criticise the ANC or the appointment of a blatantly unsuitable cadre for the national prosecution authority or the daylight theft of public funds by 2 000 civil servants — all these things that expose the underbelly of our political present have not generated enough outrage in our society to cajole the ruling elite of today to change their ways and begin to take the electorate a tad more seriously.
In many African countries such a disappearance of outrage has resulted in a virtual introduction of a police state where the rule of law is subjugated in broad daylight and has become normal. Idi Amin, Mobutu Seseko and Robert Mugabe come to mind. But then again, even in those countries when the whiff of freedom was still in the air, it was considered treasonous to point out the obvious: that yesteryears’ liberators can outdo their erstwhile oppressors in becoming their people’s new demagogues. So the ignoring of obvious signs like we saw in Uganda in the Seventies or in Zimbabwe in the Eighties, when the coffin was lowered on all that was free press, is more like ignoring an itch that becomes a sore, and a sore that becomes a sceptic wound of corruption, bribery and fraud, all perpetuated through the suppression of the media and then the judiciary, the two estates that are designed to expose and punish excesses of those in power. It is important to state these alarmist things for posterity because maybe when we are not around anymore people will read these passages — when our country’s beautiful and well-renowned Constitution is in ruins and no longer worth the paper it is written on — and learn.
So when the ANC passed a resolution as far back as 2007 in that infamous conference — the attention was more on the fall of the emperor than on what was lurking in the pages of the resolutions: the start of a perilous journey to control the media. I do not think that all that is in that resolution is bad news. I believe that the best intervention the ruling party can make in the paradigm shift of the media is to fund media diversity. This requires the billions that are found in development finance institutions that it controls. I am not talking about the crumbs that are allocated to the MDDA to develop some inconsequential community radio or newspaper that is never going to utter a murmur against even the corrupt local town council. I am talking about funding people who would want to own the likes of Media 24 and Avusa and those who will vie for some of the foreign-owned titles so that they can help them transform somehow and strengthen their ability to practice dynamic journalism that would report with accuracy yet fearlessness — that would strengthen our democracy and aid transparency yet be fair to their subjects.
There is therefore no shortcut through a media tribunal that will ensure that the media becomes a lot more interested in the nation-building project (the stated reason for the intervention in media affairs) or a lot less interested in the scandals that are always the scent of many politicians (the real reason for the renewed harassment of the press through ill-conceived regulation). The failure of analysis of what needs fixing in the natural contest between the fourth estate and governments the world over once again did not generate much of an outrage. There was indifference all around. Now no one is annoyed by the fact that Jessie Duarte seemingly deceived the public into believing that the ANC wanted to revise their position on the matter. Ahead of the general elections at a panel discussion of political parties convened by Media 24, Duarte mumbled something along these lines on the media tribunal: “It is not the time and the place — it is merely a proposal to be revisited at the policy conference — it is better if we strengthen self-regulation.” This was a welcome relief to many a media observers. This week she was contradicted by Julius Malema — the media tribunal is a done deal — we want to know how far the government is implementing it”. No outrage at all in the offing.
It is important therefore to understand that when we eventually go the way of Idi Amin’s Uganda — where journalists were maimed, jailed and assassinated for writing what they perceived was the truth about our society — it will be owed largely to the blunting and disappearance of the nation’s collective sense of outrage. Nothing seems to prick that collective conscience anymore — artists kill children in drag-racing and become heroes, ministers threaten to sue people who point out the corruption slip that is showing. Occasionally we are disgusted by some youngsters urinating in the food of workers … but where are the marches of religious leaders against the debasing human trafficking? Where are the once-reverting papers of different opinions from our academics? In this atmosphere of the absence of outrage, a preposterous proposal to hold the hand that writes the truth has been in writing for over three years and no one was adequately outraged. Hence at least two Cabinet ministers have written shamelessly these past two weeks to justify what would undo years of press freedom. I am waiting frantically to observe a sense of outrage at what is about to chance — and even the so called Auckland Park declaration by editors falls short.
@ JJ I’m with you on press freedom but you lost me here:” Where are the once-reverting papers of different opinions from our academics?”
“Once-reverting”? I’m sorry, I didn’t follow that . Could you, please. elaborate?
Likewise: “I am waiting frantically to observe a sense of outrage at what is about to chance — and even the so called Auckland Park declaration by editors falls short.”
“…what is about to chance..”? Did you mean to write ‘what is about to transpire’? Or ‘what is about to happen’?
The signs of undemocratic attitudes in the ANC have been evident since at least 1997. It’s a “The rules don’t apply to US” mentality. Or “Democracy is whatever we say it is”. Or worse: “democracy doesn’t work”. That is true. Democracy only ‘works’ where citizens insist on it where neither tyranny nor dictatorship by any group is tolerated.
The soul of South Africa is at stake here. That is no exaggeration. A country without freedom of speech which is essential to the protection of human rights, is a country without a soul and without a conscience. That is the way we are headed because the leadership of the ANC lacks both soul and conscience. There is term for that state of mind: psychopathology. It is characterised by megalomania, ‘exceptionalism’ (we are above the law), indifference to hypocrisy and the consequences of one’s behaviour (using public money for personal gain whilst the poor are abandoned), telling others what they want to hear and then doing the opposite, known outside of politics as fraud. All of that is observable in the leadership of the ANC and Alliance Partners.
We have the classic separation of power from accountability. By transferring responsibility for the ANC’s blunders onto the Press and Opposition the government creates a scapegoat. But whom will they blame for their blunders when the press is muzzled and the Opposition all but outlawed? The”West”? “Colonialism”? The “Aliens”?
Democracy requires work. Tyranny requires only pathological indifference to suffering.
I’m outraged at the kleptocrats attempts to prevent the press from informing us about all the dirty deals.
So when the allegedly crooked Nyanda backs the allegedly crooked Gama in the transnet tender irregularities issues – How can not knowing the Nyande’s companies were involved be in the national interest?
On the positive side technology has advanced so much that the focus on the print media is a waste of time – mobile communications, wikileaks, offshore websites, SSL encryption make these futile attempts to control what we read pathetic.
The ANC Govt jailing journalists is going to be a sick joke.
Ouch major this is a party that wants the gold of power and none of the dross of responsibility! Well said.
Thank you for a very thoughtful blog, Onkgopotse Tabane.
I think there is outrage, but when it is expressed the sociopaths in charge call it ‘hysteria’. Remember how Thabo Mbeki responded to outrage and criticism by calling it’noise’. ‘I do not listen to these noises’.
The extreme extent of outrage is violent protest, which we have seen across the country in the form of service delivery protests; and officialdom responded by saying ‘this is orchestrated’. As if the ANC, the UDF, COSATU etc did not orchestrate (aka organise).
Parliamentary outrage is barely permissible given the autocratic behaviour of the Speaker.
Press outrage has been made, and the press is written off as ‘liberal English-speaking and foreign-funded’.
Given the nature of this habit of refusing civil debate, what can one do? It is very reminiscent of the hopelessness that liberals felt when trying to confront the apartheid state.
None the less the world has changed hugely since the old unlamented regime, and we are an information society. I for one do not believe that the ANC will be able to get away with the present mooted legislation.
bravo siobhan
Where are the outrage? I think we have a large part of society who has not even begun to understand what it is about. The other part are outraged but feel pretty much that for the general public there is very little that they can do. Daily we see the statements made about press freedom, journalists that should be charged with “treason”, hand-outs to people who merely move in the right circles, and political rhetoric without any political will behind it.
And as much as we can, we support opposition, almost any opposition.
However, in the face of a majority government that seems to get away with almost murder, what is there for civil society to do to actually impact the process. Yes we are outraged, but often feel outnumbered and silenced as the power gets centralised more every day. And the people knowing the right people seem to get away with almost anything.
We can write letter upon letter and even organise marches, but how do we stop the decay of our society?
Where does the good guys stand up in the powerful places and say enough.
@Siobahn
Once Riverting Papers – Once fascinating , exhilarating papers from Universities in the seventies and eighties. There used to be a culture of producing position papers on just about everything in our body politics. That is now dead.
Secondly
“What is about to chance” —- this is a poetic licence phrase from the English Literature meaning – What is about to happen….You guessed it right….forgive me still trying to get My English 3 class out of my system!
People are tired of being ‘outraged’. It clearly serves no purpose as a strategy to try and get decent governance. Better to adapt to what is a well entrenched and de facto situation, and get on with your life.
An excellent article, despite a few errors.
Freedom is never won, but a constant fight.
Well put. Perhaps it is not that the nation is not out raged but that, those who are feel they have no place to voice their outrage or that complaining will make any difference at all. while the vase majority of the nation, doggedly continues to vote in leaders intent on maintaining power at any cost, regardless of who or what they stand on to keep it. then in many ways we deserve the government we get, since we have in essence used our freedom, to keep ourselves down trodden by our leaders. Having failed to utilise the power we have as democratic society.
South Africa is a one party state and is being run as such. Everything that comes up that creates outrage is merely denied or flattened
The control of the courts and the prosecuting authority is well advanced with lots more to be done favouring the corrupt elite in the ANC.
I don’t think that people are becoming numb, they are just tired of fighting against a majority that they cannot overcome, supported by voters who have no idea of what a monster they have created by voting ANC. The uneducated, the ill informed and the country folk will remain loyal to the ANC, right or wrong and sadly they are led by our great past leader Madela who also votes ANC right or wrong. The only way to keep in power is to continue with the ‘revolution” which most of us thought was done and dusted. If you cannot rule with wisdom then you have to rule with fear, the fear that the nightmare of Apartheid will rear its ugly head again. This is what Malema and Zuma do much to the adoration of their stupid supporters.
JJ,
like you said, word written in this column and many others opposing the unpopular proposal of media tribunal by the will not be forgotten…words dont live like people….people perish but this words my brother will not and they will be a reminder of where our dear country have been…and they haunt the proposers and supporters of this tribunal to their graves…
God bless SA
When I last checked, the document everyone is getting hot under the collar for, is a mere discussion document to be discussed at the ruling party’s upcoming national general council. Apart from pointing out the lack of MEDIA DIVERSITY and OWNERSHIP, it calls for a DEBATE and INVESTIGATION on the desirability of a media appeals tribunal. Our electronic media has several regulatory mechanisms (ICASA), including self-regulation (BCC), in place, and are free to report on whatever issues affect our society. There is no censorship of the media, period. The only people who are opposed to some form of regulation, are the print media. The very media who supports self-regulation, do not even implement or understand their own Press Code. More than often, findings against the print media are mostly ignored.
From the moment that Mpshe connived with the Pirates of Polokwane to, seemingly inconceivably, make cast-iron corruption charges against Jacob Zuma disappear… From that moment, this country, despite all its hope and promise… From that moment, this country was walking down the path to the abyss… The abyss that is the home of corrupt, cynical, inhumane, authoritarian dicatorship…
Quite a few express their outrage but unless it fits with the agenda set by the press few get to know.
The SA press using a simple example – Independent newspapers – rarely, if ever publish a picture if it does not have token black representation. They for instance will harp white on black “racism” but little outrage is expressed when it is the other way round. How often to we read an unbiased report on such matters?
I am yet to read any paper really question the governments stand point on wanton violence during robberies. They accept the police commissioners at their word. In the case of Seleby hopefully they now see the error of their ways.
To say the public is to blame for what is happening has more to do with the lack of media attention and investigative reporting than apathy of the public.
Using water as an example there is a huge public interest in the reality that is not being reported however I have yet to find a reporter who looks outside of the politician’s explanation or who attempts to ask real questions.
As for the majority who work in government or academia they are more worried about government funding and job retention than the public at large unless of coarse there is something in it for them. The SA press can learn a lot from the press in the UK where little mercy is shown for the slightest shuffle out of line.
JJ, I am inclined to agree with you on this one that the silence from everyone about the threat to press freedom, is rather too loud. I have uneasy feeling that we have resigned ourselves to fate and in this reticence there is the sense that our clamouring will bear no fruit. In the past people have made noises about a number of things and have had to bear consequences for that. They are either insulted or ostracised by the very people that they are criticising. Consequently a culture of fear and apathy has developed. Let those who still can shout do so to the top of their voices!!! I am behind them with all the strength I can muster. I’ ll shout until my voice is hoarse!! I am outraged!
@ JJ Thank you, for your clarification. I agree, academic papers used to be riveting and, occasionally even enlightening, as Professor Bert Olivier’s still are. We need more like him–and more commentators like you who do express outrage when it is clearly justified. The ANC/Alliance leadership have been well schooled in the politics of deception and deflection but not at all in the moral necessity for reflection on the consequences of its actions and the long-term harm it is inflicting.
@Grant Thank you! It’s nice to know one’s contributions are being read.
Great aticle. I see the lack of outrage as a symptom of how divided our society is. A lot of criticism of the ANC from media or individuals has been denounced as “racist”, “third force”, or infamously and personally “bloody agent”.
I think due to this most whites are outraged personally, but feel disenfranchised and alienated from the political landscape. We feel we are too much of a minority to make a difference. I am sure other minority communities such as the coloured and indian communities feel likewise.
Educated black south africans I am sure are also concerned. Unfortunately it seems the growing affluent black middle class is not yet big enough to force more western ideas of democracy on a government who are voted in not on the basis of their service delivery, but on the basis of their race and historical achievements in bringing freedom to South Africa.
More unfortunately, the two groups above are a minority. The large majority are black and uneducated, thanks to apartheid and the subsequent education failures, and dont have adequate understanding of the concepts of separation of powers, freedom of media, conflict of interest, etc etc. They vote on race and struggle songs, finish and klaar, not policies.
They are simply concerned with survival in a tough country, and putting food on the table. I cant blame them, but I agree that this sector, who determine our elections, must become outraged, or else we will descend into a dictatorship.
I don’t think we have lost the capacity for outrage, different people simply express themselves differently. I am outraged by the lack of service delivery, but I don’t burn tyres and toyi-toyi on the streets; that does not make my outrage less. I am outraged by the fraud and corruption in government and notice less outrage from many who would benefit if so much incredible waste were not so obviously apparent, but I sometimes wonder whether those people fully understand the implications of the wastage. Perhaps they mutter and debate with all around them just as I do, although I would be called a nay-sayer and they are not. There’s an ubelieveable amount of debate going on about the media bill, et al; you only need to be in the right discussion groups to hear it.
Constant expression of outrage becomes repetitive and loses its meaning. The ANC exploits this by compounding outrageous behavior.
Tabane is writing about the ANC and forgot that his house is on fire. He says nothing about COPE (again)that they formed in glitz and glamor.Now they are fighting over ‘imagined’ issues of power and abuse on Parliamentary funds.Nothing more he says.Power!! was what they all wanted, as they had under previous ANC Government.
‘Husbands’ and ‘fathers’ who do not take responsibility do not make good Leaders.COPE and it’s leaders are not a good examples.
@lindiwe u can’t be seriously considering this nonsense. A contribution to this debate. If I were not a member of cope what would u have to say about the subject matter of this post? What the hell has what u are saying about cope leaders got to do with the subject on the table and the impending dictatorial media tribunal..does the mention or existence of a cope make u a bit senile? Grow up. This is thought leader ..if u want mudlsingong post ur nonsense on facebook or twitter u will be met there with brainlessless to match.
JJ,
As a few commentators have noted outrage is wasted in most of Africa as every outrageous crime, corruption and incompetence is ignored then beaten the next day. SA’s government, educated in Communist dogma and repression, voted in by a majority, is copying Ghana, Nigeria, Zim etc etc and we are headed for the Dark Ages, just like those countries. Think strategically, invest in US$ or Euro’s, get a first class education, pick up scarce skills, don’t waste outrage.
Oh – and by the way – does anyone have an update on the Mzilikazi wa Africa story? Where the journalist was allegedly arrested for unspecified ‘criminal charges’ and ‘defeating the ends of justice’. Without detail these are just nebulous and completely meaningless phrases.
Do I understand correctly there was in fact no formal arrest warrant? The circumstances surrounding him being hauled off in an unmarked car and not being released when prosecutors said there was no case against him should be sounding a red alert to civil society.
This is a case which should be relentlessly probed until some sense emerges. Else we could all be arrested/abducted for ‘criminal charges’ and ‘defeating the ends of justice’ details of which will miraculously come to light in a courtroom surrounded by chanting supporters of the ruling party.
If indeed there was not arrest warrant, we need to lay formal charges of abduction and defeating the ends of justice against the Hawks.
JJ I appreciate your writing as well as your responses to comments. Please mobilise the black middle class to resist this trend in the governing party. As a previous comment mentioned, whites are given less credence (perhaps rightly so). Keep it up!
The old “since 1994″ comments: why does no-one feel outraged that SA has gone into a 5th government term of office with the same Cremora party? A democracy sans many balances of power is a democracy only on paper.
sorry, 4th. typos, typos…
The other thing is the masses see that the people who are mostly outraged and constantly complain are white people, which makes them to conclude that this is actually more a racial thing than just people looking for justice. Besides, the very same people never used to complain when the blacks were oppressed. Anyways, that my suspicion.
Where is the outrage, some of you ask? Nobody seems to say anything about the current strike going on in our municipalities,our hospitals and our schools. To the best of my knowledge this national strike was induced because the middle class had seen enough of government wastage on lavish parties, million rand cars and outrageous bonuses amongst the powers that be. Their argument (and rightly so) was that if there is money for all of the above, there must be money for better salaries for them.
So for all of you still in the dark about this, here is the outrage.
The idea since Mbeki and even amplified under JZ seems to be that the ANC must have control of everything – extending even to the whole private sector. The reason put forward “because we have won the election” is a clear indication that we are dealing with something that is buried deep in the DNA of the organisation, or possibly a majority of its members, namely ‘African feudalism’. The democratic process, which was to best knowledge subscribed to by earlier leaders, is not any more seen as a priviledge to govern the country prudently and to deliver the required services via taxes and the civil service, but to wrench control of every aspect of life and control it in a centralised manner that harks back to the tribal chieftains that wielded absolute power. The democratic process determines a winner that is entitled to ‘everything’. This system is traditionally understood by Africans and it is exactly the answer to the question: “What is wrong with Africa?”. We have the blatant example of Zimbabwe, with which very few African leaders find any fault, presumably because most of them govern according to this principle, or would at least like to. In Zim the independence of a number of institutions that need a high degree of autonomy to function properly, has been usurped, a free press not being the least. Adapted African feudalism is what keeps the leaders in luxury and the masses in poverty. It also prevents economic modernisation as seen in several Asian countries.
We better hold people accountable about the big nonsense they right about others in the first pages of weekly mails and thereby offering some few liner apologies in the 4th page. This is much better offering people the BBC, CNN propaganda type of news
The aim of the media is not to hold progress by focusing everybody on some negative energy, of course with a view to keep the status qou the same, time is not on our side. We need to be talking TRANSFORMATION, REDISTRIBUTION, NATIONALISATION and you name it.
You all seem to give examples of African leaders as if there are no George Bushes of this world. Your dirty agenda is up in the public for every man on the street to see. You can’t fool the so called “uneducated people”, they didn’t vote out of the love of struggle songs as some of the above posts suggest. Ordinary people like me know where we come from and who is trying to tow what line in what direction. We all made our noises through the ballot paper, blessed are those with access to resources such as this blog and some model C attitude.