JAUNDICED EYE

the most recent dramatic events, where 53 former soldiers held for three hours in a barricaded room the minister and deputy minister of defence, a minister in the Presidency, and 23 other government officials.

The soldiers wanted government to acquiesce to an extensive menu of demands, including R4.2million for each of the members of their military association.

The incident was resolved when the elite police Special Task Force, using stun grenades, smashed into the room and rounded up the gang.

In most societies, hostage-taking of government representatives by former military men would be called treason. Phrases like “political thuggery”, “intimidation under the threat of violence”, and “unconscionable blackmail” also spring to mind.

But in South Africa, the narrative has to be massaged because the ministers and the hostage-takers are nominal allies.

Defence Minister Thandi Modise was eager to play down the seriousness of what occurred.

“It wasn’t a bloodbath. It was people talking.”

At one stage, said Modise, the hostages joined the hostage-takers in singing old liberation songs.

“Not all upheavals in a country is (sic) a source of embarrassment.” The events, said Modise, demonstrated that South Africa is a “mature democracy” where “we will go to any instance to hear concerns for any citizen”.

Whatever one calls these events, it seems to be working. The presidential task team on military veterans was quick to release a list of steps being taken to address the dissatisfactions of the veterans.

There would be improved health-care benefits, improved pension, presidential pardons and expungement of criminal records, improved social benefits and housing, and land for farms and residential settlement.

Of immediate use for those arrested would be the concessions around criminality. Eleven have previous criminal convictions. These range from robbery to murder.

The ANC is opening a Pandora’s box with its quick capitulation.

The president has not yet said a word about these events. Not even his trademark “I am shocked …”