Transparency at its worst

In a business and social context, the term transparent refers to openness, communication, and accountability. It implies operating in a way that others can easily see and understand what actions are performed.

For those of us who have daddy issues, this is a term we use when in conflict with our mothers. We question its lack concerning the ‘daddy’ problem. It means being frank and honest about the issue at hand.

The same term comes into play in relationships. If you have fallen for a scumbag, I’m assuming you pleaded with the player using this exact same term. Most probably, you called it honesty or openness. Alas, the dog just could not abide.

From a societal perspective, however, public officials tend to use transparency recurrently. That is absolutely good of them. Except that, many of them become transparent when they have been cornered. And even then, they merely give certain portions of that openness; saving the rest for when the wind blows the cock’s tail again.  

Giving half the story or share it when you are faced with a challenge is not being honest or transparent, I believe. Speak on it as soon as you identify its inferences.

For instance, I was stumped this morning, when I came across The Star with mam’ uNomvula Mokonyane on the cover regarding her son who apparently pleaded guilty to possession of drugs.

What stunts me is the fact that now that the son has admitted to being guilty, the Gauteng Premier “appeals for your support and prayers” as she deals with this “traumatic experience”.

Why couldn’t she come forward before the streets of Joburg were flooded with state pluck-cards aimed at combating substance abuse? Or were we hoping the son would go AWOL for more than a month?

Naturally, no mother deserves to be going through such. Nevertheless, possibly, my sympathy would at least fill-up a flask had she been transparent about the challenge her son has been to her from the beginning. Not only now that the media has caught on it.

Public officials are human beings just like Tom, Mandla and Nokwanda. And because their job is to serve the public, they owe it to the public to be frank about things, especially when such things affect their job or the people they serve.

I believe you owe it to people to inform them by all means, possible. You do not have to be smart or an academic to be transparent. Honestly now, we cannot all be Trevor Manuel. The world needs the Malemas too.

This frankness should not just emerge when times are tough or when the likes of Mzilikazi Wa-Afrika are at your door demanding answers.

In my belief, it is not honesty, transparency or openness when you reveal something simply because you are in trouble. In fact, it would not even be a trouble if it was all out in the open from the first place. Well, maybe.

Let’s work on this, shall we?

Happy read!

The palimpsest my beloved Mzantsi is

At one point the colours that make up the multihued, my beloved South Africa is, seemed nicely allied and resilient. These days, nonetheless, there seems to be a gap dividing these ensigns. As a result, the question to be noted insensitively points at the reasons causing such a breakage and rapid seclusion. The answer is unknown.

 

Poverty continues to heap on and this is accentuated by the number of robberies that never seems to diminish in many cities in South Africa. Of course, national statistics play a ping-pong game with our minds; unsubstantiated decreasing statistics while our neighbourhoods tell a different story.

 

Hunger has found comfort in many households. In such homes any twinkle costs thousands. Hence many negated bellies see no problem in killing a young school girl for earrings that possibly cost no more than R60.

 

It is starvation, and possibly the love for money or for the actual syndicates, I believe, that has led Nobanda Nolubabalo to hide, in her dreadlocks, 1.5kg of cocaine. Perhaps, R16 000, to deliver the drugs to an unidentified punter at a hotel in Bangkok, was worth jeopardising her life. At 23, she did not, like the drugs would have; destroy anyone’s life, but hers. However, a 38 year-old Janice Linden did not survive consequences of this despicable act. Her illicit trafficking clashed with the Chinese authorities. Hence they executed her.

 

Of course, the main dealers, in this case, are free; possibly engaging other young and unemployed hungry – even horny - women.

 

Poverty breeds crime and many people do not seem to understand this. I would love to believe I do; the indication is detectable in the animal I become while I propel my brother to do well and endure his school time as well as his teachers and what they are compensated to feed him.

 

With that being said, my dear president is an excited man who, for reasons possibly known only to him and his cabinet, persistently declares plans to create employment and to titivate the lives of the impoverished; a concept that continues to fail up to this day.

 

Happy read!