The Point is considering joining the ANC's new league: the Veteran's League. Eligibility poses something of a problem ? The Point being neither elderly, a veteran, nor in any way inclined towards the ANC ? but if He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named can head up the Youth League, why ever not?

Why? You may ask.

  1. The same voting rights as Comrade M.

  2. A chance to join JZ's posse.

  3. A free t-shirt.

I know, I know, no guarantees on points two and three, but, really, given the choice between the youth league, the women's league, the veteran's league and the ANC proper, which would you pick? Take a moment to consider the leadership:

  • ANCYL ? Comrade M

  • ANCWL ? Angie Motshekga

  • ANC ? Jacob Zuma

  • ANCVL ? rumour has it... Madiba!

THE ORIGINAL GANGSTA

Talking of JZ's posse... some (outside the opposition) have questioned his motives for appointing Menzi Simelane as head of the NPA.

"This is darkest and most scandalous day yet in the short life of President Zuma's tenure," said Constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos.

But wait, there's more:

"It is nothing more than the actions of a gangster hell bent on protecting himself and his cronies. I feel ashamed that I have given our president the benefit of the doubt all these months."

Did you see what word he used there? Cronies. I suspect he has been spending too much time in the company of the Zillenator. So too, it would seem, did the Presidency.

"President Zuma is known for encouraging mutual respect for political opponents and people who differ with him and for always observing diplomacy and decorum. It would not be asking too much to encourage Professor De Vos to embrace maturity and decency in expressing his anguish whenever the need arises."

Apparently, embracing such maturity and decency is only called for when one is criticising the president. Nevertheless, Prof De Vos did the politically unthinkable and apologised.

"I wish to apologise unreservedly to our president for the use of this intemperate language which, as the Presidency points out, does not contribute to the healthy and respectful debate so needed in our democracy."

Debate. Now there's a novel concept. On a completely unrelated topic, this is how Justice Minister Jeff Radebe explained his decision to drop an inquiry into Simelane's behaviour.

"I am therefore satisfied that the decision not to subject Advocate Simelane to a disciplinary hearing is correct as there is no reliable evidence of misconduct which justifies a disciplinary enquiry."

Erm? sure. Expect for that part where he was caught lying during the Ginwala Inquiry. And that other part where he thought the Constitution was open to personal interpretation.

SOCIALIST K*K

While the ANC takes the concept of party demographics to the next level, the alliance partners are getting twitchy about the ANC's commitment to, well, the alliance. Yip, the Zuma honeymoon is over.

Speaking about a faction in the ANC NEC, which despises the Cosatu and SACP members, Zwelinzima Vavi said:

"This is reinforced by this use of the concept of the left as some form of a swear word in the mainstream media, so everybody is chasing left."

Somewhat like this guy ? Economist Mike Schussler, who thinks that giving the poor free electricity is a bad idea.

"But the government doesn't think that way. They want to be in this Marxist, socialist k*k."

See, Vavi was right; a swear word.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Finally, quotes from the ANC president and his mini-me.

"The manner in which foreign media has reported about us has led to other people believing that to visit South Africa you need to be well-prepared, wearing [a] bullet-proof vest and be driven in a bullet-proof car," said the guy whose security detail costs South African taxpayers R300 000 per month.

And from the chap who is not a gangster:

"Let there be no more shame, no more blame, no more discrimination and no more stigma. Let the politicisation about HIV and Aids stop."

For once, we agree.

The Point will be taking a break from cynicism for a few weeks. Okay, not really, but I will be prying my fingers from the keyboard. Catch you in the new year!