The Point is baffled by the government's priorities. Admittedly, The Point is generally baffled by the government's priorities… but I think you'll agree with me on this one.

Imagine this scenario: whilst making dinner, you accidentally chop off your thumb.
Would you:

(a) go to the hospital/doctor
(b) settle down on the couch to watch your favourite SABC soapie

And no, you can't put your thumb on ice and nip over to the hospital during the commercial break. And yes, I do realize that it would give you more than enough time to get it all nicely stitched up.

You get where I am going with this? Doctors = indispensable. The SABC = well, who actually even watches SABC? Which brings us nicely to the point of this little exercise — the government is considering spending R2-billion to bail out the SABC but is quibbling about the R1-billion it'll cost to pay state doctors properly.

RUSTY OLD CAR

In case you are still contemplating picking option (b), consider the following. SABC board member Rob Golding described the broadcaster as a rusting old car: "We got a car that was rusting and its wheels wobbling. We drove it off the cliff."

Basically, the SABC is scrap metal.

"We lost focus because we were busy running around hitting each other on the heads. The SABC needs better efficiency, management and governance than it gets."

Thanks, Captain Obvious.

And when the SABC board members refused to submit to questioning by a Parliamentary committee, ANC MP Johnny de Lange had the following to say:

"I think we are a complete and utter embarrassment to the people watching this. There is a corporation running wild out there. I cannot account to the public how our money is being spent. I do not know."

Ah. If only that applied solely to the SABC.

MORE RUSTY OLD CARS

On the topic of rusty old cars, the National Taxi Alliance secretary general Alpheus Mlalazi declared that the "government must allow the taxi industry to own BRT in its entirety". The reason for this? Well, according to Mlalazi, the industry developed the routes that the BRT system is targeting.

"The taxi industry is therefore justifiable (sic) in claiming intellectual property or goodwill on the taxi routes and taxi ranks."

Taxi industry. Intellectual. In the same sentence.

In other news — which may or may not have been reported on the SABC depending on the degree of oxidization — the Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust has waded in on the JZ/JC furore.

"As the Friends of Jacob Zuma trust in Gauteng province we are not happy or impressed by the attempt on the part of the SACC (SA Council of Churches) to want to private (sic) the Christian religion and Jesus Christ in particular."

I suspect the word they were looking for was 'privatise'.

"We refuse like many other South African Christians to allow the SACC to conduct itself as if they own Jesus Christ. It has become clear that this religious body wants to turn the Christian religion into some sort of cult belonging to a particular grouping."

Uhm… I hate to state the obvious, but the Christian religion does belong to a 'particular grouping' and the church pretty much gets to say who is and isn't in that grouping.

Speaking of cults — The Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust — the name says it all.

While this week's selection of quotes has been, well, varied, the most peculiar by far is that from Environment Minister Buyelwa Sonjica on the issue of poaching.

"We all know about the Chinese Mafia, who are stealing our abalone." Asked if she planned to tackle the mafia she replied: "It's a dangerous question. I have to take my gloves and take them off. It has to happen". And then, jokingly: "If they 'chow' me… you'll be responsible".

Note to Zuma: keep this one far away from international relations.

What has The Point missed? Share your favourite quote from the week below...

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