Let’s be trustworthy, no one actually cares about ol’ Bloemfontein.
If, nevertheless, Jozi or Cape Town went beneath provincial administration, failed once more, and have been then put beneath nationwide administration, the press would have a area day. Today, nevertheless, you’d be forgiven for not figuring out that Mangaung has spent 2 years beneath provincial administration, not to mention that it was simply positioned beneath nationwide administration.
It’s the key solution to eat: Keep all people targeted on who will get a slice of the fillet, so no one actually cares if you fill your plate with chips, and the Free State has many chips to supply. Just ask Ace,
Digging one millimetre deeper, you would possibly begin to really feel as hopeless as I do in regards to the matter.
Goody gumdrops! A complete nationwide authorities is positioned in control of this small metro! Surely all that mind energy will likely be an enormous assist!
That’s till you realise that it’s the identical mind energy that, erm… y’know… Delivered South African staples corresponding to load shedding, nationwide water shortages, total uncontested riots, and that’s earlier than even contemplating the occasion’s beloved C-word.
So like, what’s the purpose?
But the query may be expanded past Mangaung. Really.
What is the purpose of municipalities if the identical folks (or at the very least physique) who runs the nation is allowed to run the province or municipality? That query additionally works for those who place an “i” someplace in run.
Political scientists could also be on the fringe of their seats shouting at me about some or different intrinsic theoretical democratic nuance, although the proof is within the pothole.
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Maybe, simply perhaps, there’s an excellent cause to permit the identical folks to run a rustic and a province and a municipality, however the present operation makes it look like some previous arcade sport the place these equal lives. If you screw up the municipality, no stress, you get an additional life and might have your provincial folks screw it up once more and after that, play your third life and get your nationwide folks in to do the job.
All the whereas, you’ll be able to have your factions do their factor. I want that video of the previous municipal supervisor being booted out of his workplace by the municipality’s metro police went extra viral. If for nothing else, it could most likely be the primary time most individuals in Mangaung would even concentrate on the existence of a metro police service.
What’s that unimaginable African proverb about elephants and grass once more?
Yet, right here we’re, armed with a system that enables the perpetuation of a failed physique to fail repeatedly and it’s so bizarre to me. I imply, it’s the provincial individuals who got here to the rescue of their very own folks after which, upon failure, their very own folks come to the rescue once more. Perhaps I’m not being truthful.
I’ve had a horrible Cream Soda float at Spur on the Eastern Cape however a scrumptious one at a Spur in Gauteng. I simply don’t suppose that the administration of a municipality is similar as getting a deal with that briefly takes you again to your childhood, even when it feels just like the municipality is being run by youngsters.
And all this ignores the inevitable subsequent degree. Has the ANC run out of lives in Mangaung? If the nationwide authorities fails, who takes over?
What would failure represent or how would it not (and even success) be measured? Do they get a recent batch of lives after the subsequent election? It’s all so complicated and assumes a lot, however on the finish of the day, Mangaung doesn’t appear to be getting any higher.
So right here’s a plan.
Because absolutely the position of a municipality beneath administration is a press release of failure. If, nevertheless, it’s the identical physique in cost that locations its municipality beneath administration, it’s greater than a press release.
It’s an admission. What we successfully have is a provincial authorities admitting that its municipality failed after which a nationwide authorities admitting their province failed.
And with all that failure, and admission thereof, how is it presumably that the system nonetheless permits them to run.
At some level, the system ought to have the flexibility to pink card a celebration, even quickly. It doesn’t matter if the followers love them. It shouldn’t matter if the franchise cash spinners. What ought to matter is the sanctity of the sport.
In this case, the sport is democracy and people operating Mangaung from native to nationwide degree are enjoying the sport with the cheat code on, enabling infinite lives.
