The Simelani appointment, for instance, as new head of the National Persecuting Authority. Menzi Simelane was slammed by the Ginwala Commission as being less than honest, and his appointment to this high post, has been described by Archbishop Tutu as "besmirching the office". But he is a supporter of President Zuma, which I suppose says it all. But forgive me. I am so sick of reading about cosy ANC cadre deployments that I decline to write further on this issue.

After all, what more can one say. Mo Shaik, brother of the notorious and "close to death" parolee Shabir Shaik is now head of the S.A. version of the C.I.A. All we need further, is Robert McBride being appointed his deputy. God help us! And the whole justice, police, defence and intelligence agencies are headed by Zuma cronies.The President must feel very safe..Vusi Pikoli, who dared to prosecute Jackie Selebi, was sacked and then bought off. I'll write no more.

The Parastatals, under ANC control are nearly all in a mess. Need I mention Eskom and the damage it has and will still cause to the SA economy? Of course part of the tragedy of that sorry corporation is that the one really competent person put there to to pull Eskom out of the mire, Bobby Godsell, has found it impossible to work there and has resigned. And all we can do is pay up. I'll say no more!

Both the SA Airways, S.A. Airlink, the SABC and the Land Bank are all in trouble and require urgent government financial aid running into billions of rands. Unisa has been rocked by allegations of tender rigging and the investigations are on going. What a mess! These could make a column on their own. How depressing.

Tokyo Sexwale, the current minister of Housing or some such new name, tells us that in the past few years over 40 000 new houses have been built which now require major repairs and/or demolition. His predecessor Lindiwe Sisulu has criticised him publicly for his utterances. ANC vs ANC! What next? This state of affairs smells of corruption, does it not?

And to cap it all, the Members of Parliament can hardly speak of these issues, when many of them ( nearly all ANC ) are themselves under suspicion of corruption, Travelgate and the like. What a sorry mess. This subject is enough to keep journalists writing, but not me, I have no stomach to write about it. As a past M.P. myself, I cringe at the lack of respect projected by that currently sorry institution.

The problem is that the opposition is not performing up to expected standards. Except for Helen Zille, the D.A. is largely unreported and silent on many of the key issues. Mr Trollip is a worthy leader of the opposition in Parliament but his grey suited, mainly silent followers are hardly the stuff of inspiration.

COPE, once briefly, the hope of the nation, is at war with itself, it's youth leader being under suspension, and the Lekota/Shilowa saga seemingly unresolved. Quite frankly, writing about this is just boring. The ID, except for dear Patricia, is virtually invisible. Lastly, the shrinking IFP is a spent force.

Ultimately, and I have left out a lot, the sparks flying between the ANC, COSATU and the SACP continue to create political confusion, while President Zuma presides benignly over all the poisonous rhetoric without saying anything that could offend anyone, and Julius Malema, unfettered, runs amok.

Perhaps that is the mark of real leadership. Appoint your buddies to all the key positions around you. Ensure your own political and judicial safety. Then tour the country and the world saying things that please whatever audience you are addressing. The question is, how long can this last. You tell me!

As I have decided not to write about any of the above, nor even a proper political column this time, I would prefer to extend to all readers my best wishes for a peaceful, happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

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