What if Shameen becomes president?

IS SOUTH Africa ready for a woman president? That's a question posed recently by a local newspaper reader who had no hesitation in answering with a resounding yes - but with one caveat. He argues that the majority of candidates already being mentioned by political commentators  happen to be black women and asks the question: are only black women qualified to run the country?

Women from so-called minority communities also deserve consideration, he says. And so, he puts up the names of his top three nominations, not in any order of preference, which makes for some interesting reading.

Firstly, there's Barbara Creecy, the current Minister of Transport, a long standing anti-apartheid activist and a senior executive in the ANC. A nice, respectable choice. Steady at the wheel, but I'd first like to see how she copes with the feared taxi mafia and ensures the rights of the commuter in any deal in the transport sector. She also needs to get the rail sector on tract.

I certainly wouldn't argue against the reader's nomination of Judith February, an articulate lawyer, columnist and governance specialist who would make an invaluable contribution to advancing transparency and accountability in our shaky constitutional democracy. She boasts an impressive CV, serving as executive officer of Freedom Under Law and headed Idasa's  South African Governance programme for many years.

The reader's third choice, Shameen-Thakur Rajbansi. She commands a small but solid constituency as leader of the Minority Front (MF) but is a political lightweight by comparison. A former pharmacist, she has been leader of the MF since 2012, succeeding her late husband, Amichand "The Bengal Tiger" Rajbansi. She's a survivor, no doubt, having overcome many personal setbacks and internal disputes in her career as a politician but to be absolutely frank, her chances of becoming our country's next president are as remote as a snowball's chance in a Diwali fireworks display.

Just for a laugh, if by some miracle, Shameen does succeed, can you imagine what a difference it would make to the local political landscape. There'll be bhangra dancing in the streets of Chatsworth, which would become the country's new capital; the Union Buildings would take a back seat to the Arena Park civic centre; no more protea displays, just marigold garlands; Diwali will be declared a public holiday; and Hindi, Tamil, Urdu and Gujarati will be recognised as official languages.

In addition, the new National Assembly will have to be constructed at Blue Lagoon and all ministers and MPs compelled to come dressed in saris and  dhotis.

Oh, what a colourful possibility. 

Reaping what you sow

What are the Brits so angry about this time? You've seen it all on TV -  rowdy riots and protests breaking out across cities and towns across the United Kingdom recently, prompting ugly scuffles, disorder  and numerous police interventions.

It turns out the protestors want to keep thousands of asylum-seekers, many of them Indians, out of their beloved country and are demanding Prime Minister Keir Starmer stop housing them in local hotels. In Liverpool alone, hundreds turned up at mass rallies and many were arrested for various offences, including being drunk and disorderly and for assault.

Frankly, I just can't understand why these Brits are getting their knickers in a knot over something that's perfectly legal in terms of international law. Asylum seekers - wherever they may come from - have rights too. They have to be housed somewhere while their applications are being considered. What these protestors conveniently forget is that just over 200 years ago, it was the British who invaded India (as it did several other African and Asian countries as well) under the pretext of seeking trade in spice, gold and silk.

Remember that India was then the richest nation in the world. And the British invaders loved it so much, they overstayed their visit by over two centuries, eventually plundering India's wealth and subjugating the Indian subcontinent under British parliamentary rule until 1947 when India eventually gained independence. So, it can be argued that  the current influx of Indian refugees seeking asylum in Britain today is what is just karma.

Last stop

Just when I was beginning to feel a bit down about my finances, I received this reassuring note from a friend about how to accumulate wealth in my old age. He reminded me that I have silver in my hair, gold in my teeth, crystals in my kidneys, iron in my arteries and an inexhaustible supply of natural gas in my body. What a relief to know how rich I really am. 

Pather is a retired newspaper editor, author and columnist. Email him at [email protected]

From newsroom gofer to award-winning editor, join South African media legend Dennis Pather on a fascinating trip down memory lane in his captivating memoir, Copy Boy. This heartwarming journey takes you inside the newsroom, filled with laughter, hard-earned wisdom, and the power of family. As a special offer, readers of POST can now get a copy of Copy Boy, for just R100. WhatsApp 078 593 0585 for delivery details or 083 452 2831 for direct collection.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. 

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