All I want for my 80th birthday ...

This year is my 80th and the ANC’s 25th since democracy. And I hope to survive the election with a new government in power. I’ve seen governments come and go. I’ve even dabbled in politics, naively believing I could make a change for the better. As we know, good politicians are muffled by the baddies.

Soon after my 60th, the Nats made way for the new dispensation, and we entered the magical Mandela era. One could not have wished for a better birthday present. For the first time in our history, we enjoyed the leadership of a true statesman whose sole aim was to unite the nation. I recall thinking that if I were to pass away, I would’ve at least have experienced a bit of heaven on earth.

Alas, this was short-lived and we have since witnessed how a proud “struggle” party fell from grace to become selfish, corrupt and incompetent.

The rainbow Madiba started has vanished from the skyline, replaced by dark clouds of hopelessness created by Zuma/Gupta Inc and the ANC per se. Yes, even the Cyrils within its ranks must’ve spotted the shenanigans under their collective noses.

To deny this is tantamount to dismissing us as fools (which we probably are, having kept the crooks in power without lifting a finger).

That our beloved country needs an entirely new government is abundantly clear. The ANC doesn’t deserve another chance.

There was hope Ramaphosa would make a clean sweep by firing the thieves and appointing professionals to save what could have been saved. But, no, he chose to do an egg dance, hoping to unify what I call the Jacobites and False Dawnists. Up to this moment, all we are seeing are these two factions at each other’s throats – and this fight will continue in parliament, if the ANC is returned to power.

It will be back to square one with the country under a cloud of misery and degradation. Poverty will continue, unemployment remaining a nettle. How else, with a government spending the time feuding and, ironically, enriching itself? Coming up with sustainable solutions for the nation as a whole on the back burner, like it has always been.

A new government for my 80th? What a stunning present.