365 Days That Count - Day 40 - #SONA17.

I can't help but be sad as I write this. I’m pretty sure every South African will now be aware of the disastrous chain of events that unfolded in parliament last night.

I sat and watched in horror as our country illustrated to the world - once again - just how far we have to go in order to be classed as a “real” democracy.

The way the entire scenario was handled was unconstitutional and completely appalling. I’m not saying the EFF weren’t out of hand, I’m not saying they aren’t always out of hand - but surely we as a country are capable of coming up with a democratic way of dealing with the new phenomena they have presented us with.

To go from allowing them to hold the country hostage for an hour with no real authority shown to bringing in a bunch of white shirted thugs to man handle and viciously rip them out of parliament was shocking to say the least.

One woman in a white shirt stood behind the line of people being dragged out randomly swinging her arm to hit the EFF members as they went past - this is a government official, in full view of the world, indiscriminately hitting people for no reason other than they had on red shirts and were being removed by her colleagues.

I believe once the EFF as a whole has matured they will make a strong opposition party, I don’t think they will ever have the discipline to lead but they sure as hell keep people accountable. They will always highlight every flaw of the ruling party and it’s members.

In fact it is in part thanks to Julius Malema that we know about many of the scandals JZ has been involved in in recent years, including Gupta Gate and Nkandla.

For me personally, Mmusi Maimane once again shone. Acting with a dignified yet fierce force that demands respect. I honestly believe if he was our President no official gathering would spiral so dramatically out of control.

He spoke in a press conference after he and the rest of the DA had left parliament before JZ’s speech and challenged the whole sordid affair.

• Why didn’t they allow the minute of silent for the 94 lives that were so tragically lost?
• Why was the chair so terribly out of control?
• Why was different treatment shown to the COPE member thrown out after one comment?
• Why have these parliamentary “events” become more about the event than the business up for discussion?
• Why is R4m spent on the opening of parliament and not on textbooks or water or housing or health care or any of the other areas desperately needing the government's attention?
• Why are the army deployed for SONA but couldn’t be mobilised to protect the children of the Cape Flats when they were quite literally dodging bullets on their way to school?
• How is this a people’s president? He quite simply is not.

The ANC have distanced themselves so dramatically from the people of this country one can only hope that their blatant lies and empty promises will not be enough to secure them a reelection come 2019.

And HOW THE HELL is that man still our head of state???

He has to be the least respected president in history.

And that laugh - that F%$king laugh - I can’t, it makes my blood boil. There was NOTHING funny about the way tonight unfolded.

The ANC and police service showed a total disregard for the laws of our constitution on so many levels.

Rifles and riot gear and pepper spray and punches. How do you expect something to stay peaceful when that’s how you prepare for and deal with it?

And all the while JZ is unmoved. There he was at the Grand Parade after finally giving his totally underwhelming speech singing struggle songs. Dancing and singing - that’s how he deals with one of the most shameful moments in South Africa’s democracy thus far. Singing and dancing. Is this even real life??

It's a sad day for this country, let's just hope it inspires change, then we can think of it as a really big, really painful growth spurt.

Fingers crossed for us all!

Love,

Daisy xx

( @daisyd )