Gimme hope, Ramaphosa – please!
JUST when you thought former president Jacob Zuma was riding into the sunset toward Nkandla comes news of a new career on the horizon.
And, wait for it… you, the hardpressed ratepayers of ethekwini, will be paying for it.
The man nicknamed the Nkandla Crooner will soon be recording popular Struggle songs for your entertainment, thanks to the generosity of the city’s head of parks, recreation and culture, Thembinkosi Ngcobo, who doubles as Durban’s self-appointed music impresario.
Included in the repertoire will be Zuma’s iconic machine-gun hit,
Awuleth’ Umshini Wami, performed with great gusto with his faithful supporters at his many appearances in the dock.
I can’t claim to sing Struggle songs with the same fervour as Zuma, but I possess enough musical talent to offer a new version of Eddy Grant’s anti-apartheid hit, Gimme Hope, Jo’anna.
So, here goes – er, one, two, three… Well, Ramaphosa, he runs a country From Soweto to Verulam. It makes ANC supporters happy Not sure about the rest of them. We came from a past of hatred Strangers in our own country. When we tried to find each other The signs read: No Entry. (Chorus)
Gimme hope, Ramaphosa Hope, Ramaphosa, Gimme hope, Ramaphosa, before elections come. Gimme hope, Ramaphosa, Hope, Ramaphosa, hope before junk status comes. We have a system they call ubuntu Everybody is the same as one
Until Malema spoilt the party
With racist insults under the sun. We once had lots of coal reserves An arms deal, any shape of gun. But a crooked president took it all away Now we are left with none. (Chorus) Some people say, don’t expropriate, A lesson we should surely heed. Producing food is so essential With millions of mouths to feed. With food prices soaring daily, We face a future full of dread. Is there worse to come when the coal runs out, Another dark day of load shed? (Chorus) Sneaking quietly across the ocean Came the Guptas for a little fun. They had lackeys in high-up places And black bags for everyone.
They set up their home in Saxonwold Not far from Molefe’s shebeen. They captured our state so stealthily It even shocked poor Pravin. (Chorus) So help us, Rama-phosa
We’re in a bad situa-a-tion.
The rand is weak, it’s food we seek, To hell with infla-a-tion.
Crack the whip on lazy MPS
And cut down on Cabi-net.
Start building a happy nation,
And count up all the votes you get. (Chorus)