Laugh with Tannie Evita
Satirist finds much material in current state of nation
FLAMBOYANT in her leopard print top and fire-engine-red lipstick, South Africa’s favourite “tannie”, Evita Bezuidenhout, pulled no punches yesterday when discussing last week’s state of the nation address.
In Port Elizabeth for her show, A Night with Evita, the cross-dressing alter ego of comedian Pieter-Dirk Uys is quick to call members of parliament clowns and teletubbies but, she says, all is not lost and we must look for the humour in situations.
The self-proclaimed political activist is performing at The Boardwalk Amphitheatre in a three-day run which started last night.
She hopes her show will encourage hope and excitement rather than focus on the negative.
“I have brought a few stories about where we are [and] where we are going, especially to encourage people to be excited about where South Africa is going,” she said.
Bezuidenhout, who calls herself an optimist, says she is hoping her show will encourage people to stop being nervous and frightened.
“Come and sit with me and let’s have a few good laughs at the fact that things are not as terrible as they all say it is,” she said.
“The terrible things we can’t laugh at and those we should solve, but . . . if they’re going to behave like clowns in parliament then throw coins at them and move on.”
Bezuidenhout, who claims to be an ANC member, said she believed the president was probably happy that opposition parties had delayed his speech for so long, “because it was the same speech he made last year and nobody noticed”.
“But I sent a little SMS before he made the speech and I just said, President Zuma enjoy your speech and remember to put your finger under the word you’re reading, not on the word.”
Bezuidenhout, who has always been vocal about the EFF’s Julius Malema, said his methods were questionable but what he said was sensible.
“He said what should have been said five years ago and he knows, like Donald Trump, how to promise but he does not intend to deliver.
“I think there are a few very clever young people in the EFF but I think parliament was pathetic because there were these politicians who are the highest-paid actors in the country and they did the same performance they’ve done for the past three years,” she said.
“And the police should not have been dressed as wine stewards from the Blue Train. It’s ridiculous.”
Attributing her interest in politics to her grandchildren, Bezuidenhout said they inspired her to keep fighting for a democracy that would benefit them.
“You have to be energetic to lead by example and my grandchildren are demanding and they won’t think of me retiring.
“One day when they need to vote freely and fairly, democracy will be there in full working condition and I think it’s very important to not stop just because you have reached a certain age,” she said.
Happy to be back in Port Elizabeth, she said she had packed a “doek” in preparation. “I feel cheated because the wind is not out yet,” she joked.
“I have friends here and I love the people of this city. I have always felt there is an enormous amount of passion, and politics, here.”