Remember COGTA’S ‘Top Secret document’ that the DA revealed this week? The DA claimed that the ANC were going to destroy our democracy with a “power grab”. It’s an important read but the DA’s abuse of it smells of swart gevaar tactics, and denies our current economic and health crisis.

OUR SOUTH AFRICAN DISASTER

The biggest impression I gained as I skim-read that 45-page document is that our National Government was rightfully scared almost 3 months ago. That’s how old the document is, something the DA forgot to tell us whilst implying imminent threat in the Public interest. The document would’ve been updated many times by now, as has been done globally.

The Government is addressing the fact that our economy is collapsing. The DA hopes to persuade us that planning for that eventuality is abnormal.

Government was predicting that as many as one and a half million people from the formal sector would lose their jobs. The informal sector would be worse. Unfortunately, their concern was accurate because National Treasury is currently planning for 690,000 to 1.79 million unemployed.

As we speak, municipalities are collapsing, and many will follow. What the general Public thinks is bad now is going to be referred to in the future as “the good old days”.

COGTA is travelling non-stop to economic and covid-19 hotpots. I’ve spoken to staff who’re working long hours. The challenges they’re facing are collectively impossible to overcome. Consequently, they have to prepare an emergency plan to keep our country running with a lot less. I’m hoping that their draft for the economic recovery of municipalities is on version #23 by now. That would be somewhat reassuring, and would mean that Government is doing its job.

Where I disagree with COGTA is that they see the District Municipalities as main bases when they should rather get rid of those useless monstrosities that don’t care about, or know us. Instead, they should work with the people who know their areas best, local municipalities. As corrupt as they are, it’s the logical move.

Marianne Merten, journalist for the Daily Maverick, was subtly scathing of the DA with ‘Analysis: DA’s cheap political points over 11-week-old draft municipalities’ recovery plan cloud real, important issues’. She was even-handed by criticising the ANC too.

Download COGTA’s draft plan here.

THE DA’S DISASTER

The DA never used the COGTA document to express how much trouble we’re in. It should’ve been an opportunity for them to substantiate why their own plans are best (except they don’t have a plan). Instead, this important information was reduced to electioneering. They yelled that it was a “coup d’état”. The timing of that accusation is significant.

Although the definition of a coup d’état can only be applied to a country, and not the Western Cape province (which thinks it’s a country), we often incorrectly use its zesty sound for the overthrow of any order.

Last month, I claimed that the DA had manufactured a crisis in Knysna in an attempt to enable the Western Cape Government to take over our town for the benefit of the DA at next year’s elections. Although I listed the skulduggery supporting my logic, and my many blogs gained wide readership, some doubted me. But then I exposed the secret recording of MEC Local Government Anton Bredell plotting a ‘coup d’état’ of Oudtshoorn. The problem for the DA is that he’s their provincial chairperson, and their ex-leader, James Selfe, was also at that meeting. It’s reasonable to conclude that other leaders were in on the plot against our Garden Route District towns.

As opposed to their accusation against National Government, the DA’s attempt to subvert democracy for political gain is proven.

Unsurprising, DA Federal Executive Chair Helen Zille and Premier Alan Winde haven’t responded to my complaint against sedition.

POLITICAL CONVENIENCE

It’s convenient for the DA that whilst the ANC and GOOD party are calling for the removal of Bredell, and GOOD has laid a related complaint against Premier Winde with the Public Protector, the DA suddenly yells the same accusation at the ANC.

Adding salt to the gaping wound is that Helen Zille and the DA Federal Executive have, without consulting their members, moved the party from liberalism to conservatism. Zille deliberately tweeted the lie that there are more racist laws today than there were during apartheid. She took a bow to the alt right. Pretend Leader John Steenhuisen was left looking like an embarrassed toddler who’d wet his pants. The DA then launched a marketing plan against farm murders. It’s a worthy topic but also the biggest for alt-righters.

One logical explanation is that the DA’s has found a new funder. Although that may keep it’s bosses earning a salary, it drops their market share and makes non-white DA members furious. And that’s before we get to the forgotten coloured people of Cape Town, the DA’s home base, who suffer the worst murder rate in the country.

The DA resorted to their Zuma tactic of pointing in a direction not themselves. The status of their current credibility is evident in that few took them seriously when they posted the top secret COGTA draft plan. Only a year ago, it would have been front page news. Instead, they’re left with piss on their pants.

Liberalism is already dead in South Africa. That’s unfortunate because we need conflicting ideologies to give people more choices, and different ways to look at serious topics. But the “battle of ideas” was only words and not an action movement.

We’re witnessing the rapid decline of the DA’s Western Cape empire. And covid-19, no matter how much we fear or deny it, will reshape South Africa. The life we have now will not be the same next year!

SHOCK DOCTRINE VS PERSONAL USELESSNESS

From unholy crusades to world wars, power seeks more power, and tramples the majority to get it. It’s guaranteed that some politicians will take advantage of our crisis. It’s entirely human to be abused to a point where we’re succumb or fight back.

That endless war mustn’t stop us from ignoring or denigrating those who are currently working to keep us alive, and our country limping rather than falling.

Importantly, what are we going to do to ensure the survival of our communities? Twittering is not a functional option. Pointing is useless. We all need to play a positive role. This crisis is our opportunity to be better than the awfully apathetic, irresponsible, lazy and hateful human beings we’ve too often been.

Personal Note: The apocalyptic image I used was by my favourite artist, the unpronounceable Zdzislaw Beksinski. That dead Polish man represents what I often see inside my head. Consequently, I fight the horrors in front of me. To not strive for a sunnier future would be pathetic. I don’t know how anyone could live with that poor perception of themselves. I’m disturbed by the fact that this opinion makes me an outsider rather than a member of the majority community I think we need to be. This is #Day 18 of my 100 Days of Activism against Corruption.