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 organ, the ‘Citizen’ tabloid - I call it the Shittyzen - 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 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.

Comments

[Rich...!]

What about this weekend's jaunt in the gulfstream to Sun City? There will always be bigger issues than this, but my feeling is that we need to apply some broken window theory ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_Windows ) here...!

[Clive Simpkins]

Rich, for me the issue is that there's a price tag to having a CEO in a large corporate. Nicky Oppenheimer used to jaunt about in a Gulfstream. So do the other mining lads. Whether we love 'em or hate 'em (and I mostly hate 'em!)our political 'CEOs' and the government 'executive team'(Cabinet)are also a 'business of the country' overhead. Security alone today has become a huge issue. Example: Some Jacob Zuma-supporting nutter might think it an idea to take out Mlambo-Ngcuka as 'revenge' for his head rolling. And security's just one aspect...

[Rich...!]

You do have a point, but those CEO's generally make sure that their product works. As I drove up Bellairs to work today, dogding pothole after pothole I couldn't help but be a little bittter.

I know this is petty, but I still feel that flying to a golf tournie in the company jet, may not be the best way to spend money...!

[Clive Simpkins]

Rich, couldn't agree more. But regretfully with politicians, the delivery issues and the fact that we're saddled with them in those expense-generating positions have to be separated. Countries all over the world (with rare exceptions) labour under that burden!