Lance fredericks
IIMAGINE that every patriotic South African will be celebrating Team SA’s return from the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Despite targeting fifth place on the medals table, SA ended in sixth spot with a total of 37 sparkly medals – 13 gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze.
One can truly salute the efforts of the young, and even the not-so-young people who, after months and years of dedicated training, have achieved these heights.
Congratulations to all of them. In fact, South Africans are so proud of Team SA, that in Thursday’s DFA the comment piece “Team SA lifts our spirits” spoke glowingly of how the achievements of our athletes have taken the sting out of all the other darkness that has been besetting us of late.
“South Africans have had precious little to celebrate in recent months,” it said, before lamenting the increase in VAT and fuel prices which have resulted in increases in the costs of all services, goods and food.
Then the writer spoke about the Guptas and Duduzane Zuma evading justice on allegations that they raped the country’s coffers through state capture; and also mentioned that while former president Zuma finally appeared in court it will be some time before this matter is finalised.
“Crime remains an issue,” it stated emphatically before considerably lightening the mood and tone of the article. “However, the one thing guaranteed to lift the spirits of our beleaguered nation is success in sport …”
And then on to the achievements of our Commonwealth team; even mentioning the recent bittersweet victory over Australia in the controversial cricket Test series, saying: “These are moments for the country to savour and to take heart from.”
Now, as I said earlier, I am happy for Team SA and their achievements, I am also certain that people in countries that only brought home one bronze medal celebrated their athletes’ return. Yet, when I read the article I could not help being reminded of one of – in my opinion – the world of cinema’s most intense dramatic scenes.
In Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, one scene has the emperor Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix, in a tense stand-off with his senators.
One senator named Gracchus addresses the emperor: “Caesar, your presence in Rome is an invaluable opportunity to begin correcting some of the ills that have beset the city since your father went to the wars.”
Commodus interrupts the senator: “My beloved father was a careless shepherd to his flock … I shall remain in Rome and show them how they are loved.”
Gracchus tells Commodus that the people at this time don’t need love – they need law. And then specifically mentions a problem with basic sanitation in one part of the city.
As the argument intensifies, Commodus unveils his grand plan for the woes of society saying that he will hold games for the people in the city.
Gracchus, bewildered, asks: “You want to hold games?”
The emperor, with a glint in his eye replies: “Not just any games, Senator! A series of games that will make the Gods envious and leave my children happy!
Later, Gracchus, speaking to another senator admits: “He (the emperor) knows who Rome is. Rome is the mob. He will conjure magic for them and they will be distracted.
“And he will take their lives. And he will take their freedom. And still they will roar.”
I was left wondering … can 37 sparkly medals achieved over two weeks truly undo the damage that years of unremedied corruption has caused?
How have these medals made our streets and our neighbourhoods safer?
There is nothing wrong with a country achieving great heights in sport, but there is a major problem if such achievements by individuals are used to blind cheering supporters to the fact that society is crumbling around them.
So, the gladiators have their medals.
What does South Africa have?