Dissing the Deputy's Dubai Junket
Okay, so the subject of South African deputy president Phumzile
Mlambo-Ngcuka's junket with buddies to the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) has been written about ad nauseam. It's one of those
issues which just begs the hideous polarisation of which we
South Africans of all hues are so regularly capable. The racist
agendas creep out from under their stones and start gnawing away
- again - at the fabric of our staged unity. The rainbow nation
vaunted by my 'fave' archbishop - ye Very Reverend, His Grace,
Desmond Tutu -appears a little faded and tatty around the edges.
I hold no brief for the ANC and by and large thoroughly dislike
a lot of what they continue to inflict upon the poor and
disadvantaged of this country. But I was of the view (and wrote
so) at the time of President Thabo Mbeki's R 400 million jet
acquisition, that it made good sense. I'm of the same opinion
regarding the deputy Prez's little holiday to Dubai. It's not OK
to compare the scenario with Tony Blair occasionally using
scheduled BA flights to hop the Thames or the Channel - (whether
whale-spotting or not), to chat with French PM Dominique de
Villepin. We are, folks, talking about a private, SA Airforce
maintained jet, vs. the 'flying coffins' as they've been dubbed
by IATA, of certain African countries. I'm not referring to the
national carriers of South Africa or Kenya, but to those of
their poorly maintained cousins and the air traffic control
systems which are that in name only. It's no secret that the
parlous state of African airlines and air traffic navigation
services in many countries on the continent is cause for grave
concern to many airlines overflying Africa.
Separate for a moment your emotions, opinions, likes and
dislikes from the principle at issue. If the likes (in status
terms) of a deputy UK Prime Minister, John Presott, were based
in South Africa, how would you transport him? (No jokes about
the weight issue now!) So, logical thinking required: Would you
seriously put the woman who would have to - in constitutional
(even if not in capability) terms - step into the shoes of
president Thabo Mbeki in the unlikely event that he gets hit by
a minibus, in the position of having to get about, across or
beyond the continent using some iffy airline? Would you expect
Mbeki to use scheduled flights (oxymoron) for African Union (AU)
or peace brokering activities in difficult-to-remember enclaves
up North? I don't think so. The onerous security, foreign
affairs protocol, let alone safety and other arrangements that
would have to be made are well outweighed by the relative
simplicity of a point-to-point private flight.
The nucleus of the debacle lies not in the issue of the deputy
Prez being ferried in an Airforce jet to her (I believe,
entitled-to) holiday break. The issue that fanned the flames was
the truly crappy communication surrounding it. I guarantee that
had it been announced in advance that 'Phumzie' as that
selectively and intentionally disrespectful tabloid rag, the
'Citizen', inappropriately refers to her, was going on hols,
there probably wouldn't have been a murmur. Other than perhaps
from the perennially opportunistic leader of the Parliamentary
opposition, Moaney - oops, I mean Tony - Leon.
The second silly blups was putting out an 'explanation',
revising it and then going back to version one again. This was
un-prayed-for Manna from heaven for the nay-sayers. The third
glitch was putting the redoubtable Murphy Morobe, Presidency
spokesperson, in the position of having to pour oil (not
inappropriately given the UAE destination!) on sorely troubled
waters. He did so surprisingly ineptly. I know him to be a
suave, highly intelligent, charming communicator. I guess that's
the downside when you become the spin doctor for politicians who
won't let you do it your way. But who do ask you to come in with
a poop-scoop when they've truly botched it. Simpatico Murphy,
but you have to learn to say 'Nyet!' a little more forcefully,
or pass the buck to Joel Netshitenze of GCIS
(inappropriately-named Government Communication and
[mis]Information Service) fame, who has so frequently 'defended'
the indefensible that nobody remembers what he says anyhow.
I don't believe the deputy Prez's holiday is an abuse of
tax-payers money. Our notoriously incompetent minister of
health, Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is responsible for huge HIV
and AIDS treatment budget underspends -with lethal consequences.
That's real abuse of all involved so let's give it a lot of ink
space and air time instead. It also really doesn't matter how
many other bums were in the seats of that aircraft. The
fractional effect on fuel consumption - if any - should have
encouraged Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to take a bunch of AIDS orphan
kids who'd never flown before, along with her. That might have
got some positive press coverage.
If South Africa is indeed the economic engine room of the
continent then maybe we should start acting like we are. And
quit these churlish tirades when our head of state or his deputy
fly in safety and security to fulfil their functions or
recreation on the continent or beyond. I can't recall ever
having read of it being an issue when the Nats were in power in
SA. Why should it be now? The international community must think
we need a national course in emotional intelligence.