Let's play a little game of hangman (yip, I'm working on a theme here, but 'let's play a little game of 15-year-jail-term' would just have confused the hell of out everybody…). Here we go:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

E?

_ e_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ e

A?

_e_ _ _ a_ _a_ _ _e

L?

_e_ _ _ a l _ a_ _ le

Medical Parole?

Yes! And Schabir Shaik gets out of jail free! Well, except for all that terminal-illness-about-to-die stuff…

Jail. Now there's a nice theme for this week's column. Allan Boesak went to jail; Schabir Shaik's getting out of jail; and Jacob Zuma may very well never go to jail.

A_LAN BOE_AK

Cope's got all sanctimonious. They even enlisted a big shot former bishop to run as their presidential candidate. Pretty much the anti-Zuma, Mvume Dandala has all the right credentials to speak out against the moral decay in the ANC.

"We are saying the problem in our country is a problem of delivery, of people who are lacking in commitment…we will bring back honour to the public service. The value of honesty must be the cornerstone of the government of the Congress of the People," said Dandala.

Hear! Hear!

In announcing their list of candidates for parliament, Charlotte Lobe stressed the importance of these qualities.

"We affirm our stand for accountability of leadership to the people of South Africa and high moral values for our candidates."

Liars. Would you like me to spell that out? A-l-l-a-n B-o-e-s-a-k.

In the words of a completely unknown and obscure individual (Adrian Kay) from a completely unknown and obscure party (The Cape Party): "Even Jacob Zuma, despite his flaws, has a better record than Boesak. Zuma was found innocent, Boesak was guilty and we don't want him here".

Agreed. Except for that bit about Zuma.

SCH_BIR SH_IK

So many potential puns, so little space. Instead, I have come up with a new superlative form of the word 'sick': sick, sicker, shaik. Use it at your discretion.

How do we know that Shaik is so very sick? Because his buddies in the ANC told us so. And he came home on a stretcher. Yip, the proof is irrefutable.

"The minister has looked at the report, applied his mind, and decided the matter is correct," said correctional services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela.

And, in case you were wondering, this is what 'applying his mind' involves…

"Three medical practitioners' collective submission shows a unanimous conclusion the Mr Shaik is in the 'final phase of his terminal condition'," said Ngconde Balfour.

He added: "One even went as far as saying that his condition has reached an irreversible condition."

An irreversible terminal illness? Never!

The Shaik brothers, who described their brother's condition as "gravely ill" (nope, not a synonym for 'terminally') gave credit where it's due.

We "wish to acknowledge the support of comrades and friends during the long journey of Schabir's trial and imprisonment. Our greatest need now is for peace".

Our greatest need is a justice system free from political interference.

I'm not suggesting, of course, that the two are in any way related.

JAC_B ZU_A

Old JZ has shifted fully into campaign mode. Yip, it's policy, policy, policy all the way.

"It's a time when the citizens of the country realise the power they have, the authority they have… They have the power to put in and remove a government if they don't do what they are supposed to."

Erm… Zuma, I'm not sure that's really a line of thought you want to encourage. Ah, but wait, there's more.

There are many "good reasons" why people should vote for the ANC, said the head honcho.

"It has a vision, it has a future… and it is in government."

'Good', it would seem, is a very loose term, which can sometimes act as a synonym for 'ridiculous'.

On education: "An urgent task remains in that we must ensure to transform the education system fully".

Again?

And finally, on crime (yes, it's a favourite).

"Our view is that we should eradicate criminality. We need to align the justice system to deal with what is regarded as weaknesses to ensure that…it is able to support the various departments, to ensure crime is dealt with."

As he said: "It has a vision, it has a future… and it is in government".

Let's play a little game of hangman. The Point is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _