Tito's Tummy Tantrum

The way to handle your obesity is to do something about it. There's a limit to what pin or even chalk-stripe suits can do to create the illusion of a svelte girth. If you haven't got the sense-control and self-discipline to do something about your self-indulgent tongue and taste buds, then at least don't turn yourself into a figure of ridicule - a la our Governor of the Reserve Bank, Tito Mboweni (pictured).

He appears, from all accounts, to have developed a paranoia about photographers snapping him while he mops sweat from his fevered brow. (Could we call it a 'fiscal melt-down' one wonders?) Somewhat reminiscent of Shakespeare's Falstaff, whom the Bard depicted as, 'larding the earth', en route. This latest little tantrum, including asking an event organiser to 'protect' him from a photographer, is nothing short of absurd.

The desperate irony is that the business pages of the Times this morning ran a pic of our camera-shy Gov, taken as a screen shot off - yes, you guessed it - a wide-screen TV. How evil is that? ;-) He's now halfway to being a Zapiro caricature of even his usual plump self.

Get thee to a dietician Tito! And go for counselling about your vanity.

Comments

[Marcel]

As the person in charge of a public organisation, on official duty, what right does he have to 'ban' photographers? Does he not want the public to see how worried/unconcerned/paranoid he is? He seems to be quite the 'fat cat' (I mean figuratively, although ...) with little or no chance of being replaced any time soon - which is a dangerous thing in a young democracy. Maybe this kind of irrational behaviour is the first sign of a man who has had too much power for too long. Politicians (& let's face it, Tito's a politician more than an economist) & baby nappies : both should be changed often & both for the same reason.

[Jacques de Villiers]

Besides all your comments, Tito is also clumsy (when it comes to selling his rate hikes). He tried a rejection and retreat close on us and by all accounts it worked (it must be true if Redi Direko of Radio 702 said so ;-))

He telegraphed his punch like an amateur boxer. Telling us that the interest rate could go up 2 points and finally bringing it in at .50 points. We all breathed a collective sigh of relief. But, the bottom-line is that Tito would never have gone to 2 points. So, he basically conned us so that we wouldn't think that being raped by him again would be so bad. He's even applying a bit of the Stockholm Syndrome - we're starting to like our economic captor who we believe is only trying to do his best for us.

But I don't suppose that South African politicians/government officials have had as much time to practice as the Americans. At least when they're conning the populace, it seems seamless and even truthful. Our lot is just clumsy and get caught out (by intelligent) citizens. Unfortunately, the majority are emotionally and not logically driven ...