Ousted Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse behaved like a jilted lover after she lost the mayoral chain and the blue lights that come with it. In a YouTube “address to the nation” on Wednesday she insisted on referring to herself as “executive mayor of Johannesburg”.
“I introduce myself as Johannesburg mayor despite the council having appointed an ANC mayor in my place last week Friday, because I believe that sitting was a sham and decisions taken there unlawful.”
Next day, she criticised the ANC’s new mayor, Dada Morero, for his visits to reservoirs as the city’s water crisis deepened. Phalatse kept referring to Morero as “councillor Morero” because she still considers herself mayor. In the same breath the ex-mayor said Johannesburg has had no “water for days, with no political leadership”. Yet she argues she’s still in charge.
Time heals all wounds, even power hangovers.
RELATIVITY — HELPING RELATIVES?
Just a few days back in power and comrades are already taking advantage of the water crisis to rescue starving tenderpreneurs — by implementing what Morero calls a “water revolution”.
During his reservoir visits, he said: “We must make a bold statement and call a water revolution in our communities. That includes communities having JoJos in each and every house, and that will help us to preserve … rainwater.”
Morero may be no Einstein but he clearly believes in the physicist’s motto: “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity.”
ZUMA BRANCH GOES OUT ON A LIMB
Baba kaDuduzane is a free man after the department of correctional services confirmed that Friday was the last day of his sentence for defying a Constitutional Court order to appear before the Zondo commission. The news was hailed in Nkandla, where the Msholozi branch not only nominated baba kaD for the position of ANC national chair but also chose him as one of their delegates. Unlike the high-profile ANC leaders who frequent baba kaD’s homestead, at least his neighbours still take him seriously.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO PLANNING
The Nkandla branch also backed Supra “Black Jesus” Mahumapelo as ANC secretary-general, suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane as Mahumapelo’s deputy and alleged VBS Mutual Bank looter Danny Msiza as treasurer-general. It seems like desperate measures for desperate times in the land of the Crooner.
SO MANY BAD VIBES
One man who does not need baba kaD’s endorsement is the man they call Bhuti, who allegedly allowed his friends to steal R150m from the department he was in charge of. In his quest to unseat McBuffalo, Zweli Mkhize released a campaign video in which he said: “The very existence of our movement as a revolutionary tool for improving the quality of the lives of our people is under threat.” The Special Investigating Unit might disagree; the only tool that is under threat from McBuffalo is the one that channels state money to nail bars and second-hand bakkies.
AVERTING A WATER-JUG CRISIS
The ANC in the Eastern Cape has put the kibosh on Andile Lungisa’s ambition to become national treasurer-general. It wrote to Lungisa to remind him that he can’t set foot near Nasrec because his party membership has been suspended until September next year for hitting a fellow councillor with a water jug. “Failure to observe the above terms and conditions may result in further disciplinary action.”
Old Hog suspects this is a precaution to avoid glass jugs landing on comrades’ heads.
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