Sangweni’s spirit is here to stay for a public service that is upright

Dr Pali Lehohla is a Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg, a Research Associate at Oxford University, a distinguished Alumni of the University of Ghana.

- Dr Pali Lehohla is a Professor

The question the stalwarts asked in 2017 and the advice they proferred was precisely about this. It was not heeded. President Mbeki quoted the full text of a disappointed Sangweni who when paying tribute to Dr Zola Skweyiya as he was laid to rest addressed President Cyril Ramaphosa directly.

He said that if a repentance moment were to be had, and if South Africa would show commitment to ethical leadership, it was on the occasion of the funeral of Skweyiya. Yet to date nothing happened to heed Sangweni. A dololo moment to date as President Mbeki put it.

So, it is clear that the beating up of breasts about not supporting wrong doers in the light of the next election might well be wished but may run the drought of having no one left as a supporter.

Bathabile Dlamini pointed out back then that everyone in the party has a smallanyana skeleton. This makes it difficult to deny wrongdoers legitimate support because there will be no one to mobilize against supporting wrongdoers when each and everyone has a smallanyana skeleton. The most likely outcome therefore is the habitual support of song and dance that will have to accompany any unlucky victim of the law.