Fear of WMC puts comrades at odds with long-held beliefs

Sleeping with the enemy

Vera wants to march to her journalism school and demand her money back. Clearly what they taught her there wasn’t worth the thousands of rand she paid.

For instance, her political science teachers used to say liberal and right-wing parties are there to defend and protect the rich and privileged. Left-wing parties and liberation movements, on the other, would use every chance they get to attack the rich and privileged.

Now, this is not what happened in our parliament this week.

White monopoly capital, in the form of former Steinhoff chief executive Markus Jooste appeared before MPs to answer questions as to how he lost billions of public sector workers’ money as a result of what seems to have been dubious accounting practices.

ANC MPs, finally finding themselves face to face with the WMC they have been denouncing for time immemorial, seemed muted.

It had to fall on dyed-in-the-wool liberal DA MP David Maynier to tell it like it is to Jooste.

“One of the people who you regarded as a friend apparently referred to you as a f@*#&ing psychopath,” Maynier laid into Steinhoff.

Out of order

“Chairperson...” an ANC MP objected.

But Maynier wouldn’t budge: “Is it, given the fact that it now appears that you lied convincingly about the state of your company, an accurate description of your company?”

“Point of order...” shouted an ANC MP.

Methinks Chris Hani would have been proud... of Maynier, and not the comrades he left behind in the ANC.

Cold front in the red corner

It is really none of Vera’s business as to which artist or celebrity supports which political party.

But she did find it amusing to learn that Ringo Madlingozi has ditched the ANC for the EFF.

ANC folks tell us it is cold outside the party. It gives a new meaning to Ringo’s smash hit “Ndiyagodola I’m feeling cold” of yesteryear, doesn’t?

Singing a new tune

The numerous petrol hikes and the economic recession just before the next elections are forcing the ANC into panic mode.

Trying to shield Mr Thuma Mina from criticism for the latest economic woes, the party’s economic guru Enoch Godongwana is reported to have put the blame squarely on the doorstep of a famous vocalist from Nkandla.

But was it not the same ANC that kept the Nkandla Crooner in power for all these years by claiming “collective responsibility?”

Snap out of habit of snaps, dear

Vera congratulates political sangoma Dumisani Hlophe for his apIt pointment as the SABC’s new political editor.

Unlike the DA’s Phumzile van Damme, Vera is less concerned about Hlophe’s alleged political beliefs. After all we all know what they say about opinions, and Mzansi, to quote Paul Dolezar, “is freedom”.

But Dumisani, my darling, tone down on those pictures of slay queens you put up on social media now that you have a big job.

Don’t laugh, ye of little faith

Speaking of the SABC, its former political boss Faith Muthambi has been the focus of the evidence at the Zondo commission this week.

Government’s acting spokesperson Phumla Williams detailed how the ex-minister ill-treated her for some reasons, including not referring to her as “honourable minister”.

How does Vera know that Williams is telling the truth? Because she says when she reported the matter to president Jacob Zuma, uBaba kaDuduzane laughed.