Phala Phala: Stay the course, Mr President

IN 2018, you were elected into high office by Parliament after your predecessor fell on his Zuptagate sword. Before that, an ANC coup that toppled the exiled chief of the country after the founding statesman, Madiba.

Then you engineered the CR17 campaign, secured Luthuli House, and unwrapped your anti-corruption mandate, the Zondo state-capture probe and the return of the NPA-SIUHawks law enforcement agencies that produced fireworks.

Next came Covid-19 and the PPE scandal involving your health minister, and now your main challenger for the ANC leadership; the KZN looting in which you responded by deploying the army that quelled the horrific attempt at a coup d’état and political insurrection. Now, on the eve of your CR22 and CR24 campaigns, trouble is at the door.

Go back to the NEC to face your nemesis and then face the radical reds that bank at VBS, and take on the challenges from the Desperate Alliance in Parliament.

And, oh! Ministers, foreign envoys and MPs would die to enjoy a right royal dinner with the king of the Commonwealth, a royal dish downed with expensive dollops of the best wee drams and cognac from the Highlands. So now you have no need to fear (without any fear or favour), do simply see red at the bullfight of selfish politics.

Host an open day at Phala Phala, throw a big braaivleis with sundowners and use your special set of legal skills and negotiating prowess, and come clean and walk tall out of Parliament.

As a country in crisis, we have big fish to fry in the sea of sharks lurking in this deep dive on the corruption front lines – at least for the next chapters of corruption, Eskom and other SOEs’ woes.

Dropping the ball now will mean South Africa will be blackballed on the financial markets, the rand will be in free-fall, joblessness and poverty will rocket, investors will stay put, and we will have no beef to present at the G20, G7 or the pending BRICS and Commonwealth events under King Charles III.

Like Watergate, Farmgate will be water under the bridge once the comrade delegates wildly put their hands up for you for a second term in Pretoria and Luthuli House at Nasrec on December 16.

Pay your fine, take the 60 million populace into your confidence, and hold down one job without a night job.

MARLAN PADAYACHEE | Durban