PIPSQUEAK OR GOLIATH? OPEN LETTER TO MALEMA

It’s doubtful whether the Honourable Julius Malema would see, never mind read or reply to this open letter addressed to him. After all, the commander-in-chief is a busy man, organising inspections of retail stores he suspects employ illegal foreigners.

In case you do come across it, Mr Malema, a quick question for starters. What are you going to do about it without breaking the law? Then again, you’re adept at evading law enforcers when it comes to serious crimes for which you are suspected.

At a guess, I’ll say you’ll use bullying tactics against the immigrant workers. You’ve been earmarked as the typical playground bully, rightly or wrongly. You see, that’s how you come across by surrounding yourself with sweaty guys on steroids. Scary and intimidating to the unprotected.

That reminds me what happened to a number of bullies in my school and it should sound a serious warning to you. Among the victims a champion inevitably arose out of the blue. He’s usually shorter than the bully and doesn’t carry an ounce of lard. When the bully opens his eyes, he’s on his back and bleeding from the nose. David had shown up Goliath for what he is. A coward at best.

Once thus exposed, the bully is relabelled a pipsqueak. A gnat. A nerd. This would be an insult to a man of your stature and influence.

You obviously carry the interest of the workers at heart. Very honourable. Magnanimous, in fact.

Truly remarkable in your case, because, let’s face the facts, you have never held down a job in the true sense of the word. You’ve never left and returned home in the dark and experienced the pathetic – and dangerous – hit-andmiss transport system, which leaves hard-working commuters stranded and losing pay.

Let’s cut to the chase. You have the bloody cheek to deny employment of those willing to do an honest day’s work – in many cases, being paid a bitterly unfair wage for the job and having to slog under horrendous conditions. Blatant exploitation.

You haven’t a clue of what it’s like to live and work under these harsh and torturous conditions. You can’t have, simply because you’ve never had to.

Why work while being a shareholder in the Ratanang Family Trust, the Kopano Family Trust, the Mazimbu Investment Trust and the Munshedzi Family Trust? Money for jam. Even here the monies “earned” by Ratanang are suspected of being ill-gotten gains. The jury is still out on that one. Do you sleep at night, knowing you may have led a million supporters up the garden path into believing you care for the poor?

I came across this deliciously appropriate quotation by an unknown writer: “It is not my role exposing the fake people. In time, they expose themselves for who they really are.”

A Goliath? A pipsqueak? We’ll have to wait and see. Or is it already obvious?

In the meantime, Mr Malema, nurse that pricey bottle of wine from Kgantontle Consultation in case it may help ease the conscience if found wanting.

Down the hatch! Injabulo!